A Danish painter, Jean Jacques Stunder, representative of the European enlightenment and classicism found Slovakia his second homeland. He studied at Copenhagen Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, stayed in Italy and Vienna. He came to the Kingdom of Hungary at Ferenc Kazinczy’s invitation (1793) who wanted to establish an academy of arts in order to edify culture of his country. However, his intention failed, Kazinczy was accused of participation in “Hungarian Jacobin” conspiracy and finally sentenced. Nonetheless, Stunder found his patrons in circles of Kazinczy’s supporters, Freemasons, intelligentsia and reformed Catholics. He settled in Levoča and married Elisabeth (1797), the daughter of Samuel Adami, a goldsmith and lodge member. He painted altar pictures and portraits. He depicted Count Jan Joseph Hadik de Futak (1755 – 1833) twice, as he is painting his portrait and also on another picture where he is painting a portrait of his wife. The first signed picture is in the Slovak National Gallery, while the other one can be found in the Hungarian National Museum.  The assumption that these pictures coming from the 18th century resulted from friendship of both gentlemen not from an order, which was rather untraditional, brings them a greater credit. The portrayed Count Hadik was growing up in Levoča, and on the contrary to his brothers, he did not follow in the footsteps of his father, the famous field marshal András Hadik.  He occupied himself with art and work of a vicegerent´s adviser. Since 1784 he was married to the Countess Frantziska von Breuner with whom he had 4 children. His depiction follows the spirit of classicistic portraits which represented tributes to spiritually related people, were characteristic of simple compositions, neutral background, hushed light and intimate atmosphere. A natural impression and clothes were significant features. Count Hadik moved with the times, he was wearing no wig or decorated coat but instead a white shirt, velvet suede, long light-coloured trousers and a topcoat (thrown over the chair) according to English fashion. A cap with a fur adds him a hallmark of a personality.
The work of art of Jan Jakub Stunder „Imrich Zay“ from the collections of the Slovak National Museum – Bojnice Museum is used on the first day cover (FDC).
                                                                                                                                                                            Marta Herucová