The 56 cm-high marble bust installed in the Elephant Courtyard corridor of Bory Castle depicts Bory Jenő’s wife, Komócsin Ilona (Mrs Bory), who was not only his life partner but also his creative collaborator and inspiration. The love and respect Bory Jenő felt for his wife run through his entire oeuvre; Bory Castle itself commemorates this emotional and intellectual relationship.
The portrait, made in 1938, seeks to capture the inner character of its subject. The bowed head, closed eyes and calm reserve of the face create an effect of profound contemplation. The delicately worked facial features and the softly luminous surface of the marble create an intimate atmosphere far removed from the solemnity of representative portrait sculpture. In the composition, a particular role is given to the contrast between finished and deliberately rough surfaces. While the details of the face and hair are carefully modelled, the shoulders and the parts connected to the base have intentionally been left more rugged. This solution was a formal device frequently used in portrait sculpture during the first half of the twentieth century; it directs attention to the face and emphasises its spiritual content.
Mrs Bory, Muse of the Castle Builder is not simply a portrait, but also a monument to an exceptional creative and human relationship. As a painter, Komócsin Ilona herself participated in shaping the artistic world of Bory Castle, while Bory Jenő commemorated her figure in numerous sculptures.