The Play of Balance is one of Bory Jenő’s early works and clearly reflects the dual vocation that defined his entire career: the unity of architecture and sculpture.
The sculpture depicts a nude male figure holding a plumb bob aloft in his right hand and carrying a model of a building in his left arm. The figure is an allegorical representation of the architect, through whom Bory Jenő also alludes to his own vocation. The plumb bob symbolises the precision of the master builder, structural order and measure, while the model held in his hand evokes the Church of the Sacred Heart in Székesfehérvár, one of Bory’s early architectural works.
The central idea of the composition is the responsibility of the creative individual and the quest for balance. The measuring instrument suspended from the raised hand symbolises the discovery of the perfect vertical, while the other hand holds the completed design. The sculpture thus refers both to technical precision and to the freedom of artistic creation—in other words, to the harmony that accompanied Bory Jenő’s work throughout his career.
The work played an important role in the development of the artist’s career. Bory submitted this sculpture for the 2,000-korona Franz Joseph Prize, which he duly won. The recognition provided the young artist with significant professional affirmation and helped to consolidate his subsequent career.
The sculpture can now be seen in the picture gallery at Bory Castle. The figure demonstrates Bory Jenő’s dual identity particularly well: he worked both as an architect-engineer and as a sculptor, and frequently sought to unite these two disciplines in his works.
The work was restored in 2025 and can now be viewed in its renewed condition. The Play of Balance may be interpreted not only as an early artistic credo, but also as a symbol of the outlook that permeated Bory’s entire oeuvre: the idea of a complementary relationship between architecture and the fine arts.