In 1932, Bory Jenő modelled a medal of Ottokár Prohászka, Bishop of Székesfehérvár. The work was produced in four different versions.
The medal was issued in connection with support for the construction of the Prohászka Memorial Church: it was released for a lottery held in aid of the church.
The obverse bears a profile portrait of Prohászka facing left, encircled by his name, episcopal rank and the dates of his life. The portrait is particularly authentic, as Bory knew the bishop personally and had previously made a bust, a death mask and other commemorative works of him.
The reverse shows the Prohászka Memorial Church in Székesfehérvár. The image follows Gáspár Fábián’s original design and consequently includes a bell tower that was never ultimately built. The medal is therefore also a noteworthy document of the church’s construction history.
The work was produced in four sizes, with diameters of 136 mm, 78 mm, 54.5 mm and 34 mm. The larger examples were cast in bronze, while the smaller versions were struck. Only a few known examples of the 136 mm version survive, whereas the 34 mm medal was more widely distributed, including in gilt bronze.
The Prohászka Medal is an outstanding work in Bory Jenő’s medallic oeuvre. Its significance lies in the high quality of its portraiture, its association with the cult of Prohászka and its record of the contemporary appearance planned for the memorial church in Székesfehérvár.