Pál Szinyei Merse (4 July 1845, Szinyeújfalu - 2 February 1920, Jernye) was a Hungarian painter and art educator.
He was born into a family of the old nobility who supported the Hungarian Revolution. Because of the political unrest, he attended private schools. In 1864, with the support of his parents, he enrolled at the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich, where he studied under Alexander von Wagner. Later, from 1867 to 1869, his teacher was Karl von Piloty. While there, he met Wilhelm Leibl, who introduced him to plein-air painting. After seeing a major art exhibition in 1869, he was anxious to get to work and left the Academy.
In 1870, at the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War he moved to Genoa and was inclined to stay there, but returned in 1872 at the urging of his father. Once there, he set up a studio near one operated by his friend, Arnold Böcklin. The following year, he got married. Soon, he was largely occupied with financial matters and his painting suffered. After years of critical abuse and increasing family problems, he gave up painting for over a decade, beginning in 1882.
He was born into a family of the old nobility who supported the Hungarian Revolution. Because of the political unrest, he attended private schools. In 1864, with the support of his parents, he enrolled at the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich, where he studied under Alexander von Wagner. Later, from 1867 to 1869, his teacher was Karl von Piloty. While there, he met Wilhelm Leibl, who introduced him to plein-air painting. After seeing a major art exhibition in 1869, he was anxious to get to work and left the Academy.
In 1870, at the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War he moved to Genoa and was inclined to stay there, but returned in 1872 at the urging of his father. Once there, he set up a studio near one operated by his friend, Arnold Böcklin. The following year, he got married. Soon, he was largely occupied with financial matters and his painting suffered. After years of critical abuse and increasing family problems, he gave up painting for over a decade, beginning in 1882.