'The ‘Germanicus Iulius Caesar’ is an extremely important work of the exhibition because it tells the story of the deeds of one of the greatest emperors of Rome.
Tamás Náray incorporates his favorite colors into this upsetting work: crimson red and lapis lazuli blue, colors that rhyme powerfully with beloved colors of ancient Rome. In this work we also encounter a rich gold plating that fills almost half of the frame, with beautifully executed application despite that all of this is a very complicated task that requires expertise.
The composition of the work and emerging peaked shapes evoke the greatness of the emperor, but the darkening casts ominous shadows: he was the one who gave life to two questionable figures, Nero and Caligula.'  prof.dr. Valeriano Venneri

'The reign of Antoninus Pius from 138 to 161 was one of the most flourishing periods of Rome. Adopted by Adriano, Pius succeeded his foster father after his death. Tamás’s painting fully captures the environment of Pax Romana and its peaceful economy. It almost seems like a reinterpretation of the ‘Allegory of Good and Bad Government’, a three-piece fresco by Ambrogio Lorenzetti, made a few centuries ago. Tamás balances the composition by placing geometric elements that allude to the borders of Brittany. The colors are well-measured and relaxing, changing shades in a shrewd and intelligent manner without creating aesthetic controversy for the observer. It’s a heartwarming experience to stand before the artwork.' prof.dr. Valeriano Venneri

'The work titled ‘The Judgment’ commemorates the dramatic moment when Jesus stands before Pontius Pilate.
Pilate, as is well known, does not assume authority and passes the right to judge: in the end Jesus is condemned because he proclaims himself the king of the Jews. The staff representing the snake has multiple meanings: the snake of evil and also the snake that deceives humanity in the story of Adam and Eve, and the court before which Jesus is dragged after torture and where it is pronounced: Ecce Homo! But Pilate only washes his hands.
Priming the canvas to be able to hold pastels is a task of great care and professionalism and requires a lot of patience. The tones of gray and beige elevate the work from mundane existence. The gold plates have symbolic significance: they represent the via Dolorosa, the Way of Suffering. Tamás Náray's advanced gilding technique approaches the level of the great masters of the Italian Renaissance.
The red pointed shape refers to the lance that will eventually release Jesus from his pain.' prof. dr. Valeriano Venneri

'Diocletian is a controversial, questionable emperor, but his importance is outstanding. The first violent persecution against Christians took place in the years indicated in the title.
The billowing shades of red suggest sinister omens, the outcomes of which are as painful as they are cruel. In the lower part of the frame the artist - with great intuition and brilliant technical knowledge - gives us a glimpse into the history of the three crosses, this time again by dividing the foreground to three units: trapped between the heavy lines the visual elements of the three merciless crucifixions come to life. In admiration of the painting we remember Jesus of Nazareth, as well as the two thieves Titus and Timaco. The downwards crucifixion of St. Peter also unfolds.' prof.dr. Valeriano Venneri

'The ‘Caesar and Cleopatra’ is an extremely passionate piece. A passionate story about the heart which is embodied by the artist with an endless red swirl. The work symbolizes the self-devouring love that was ignited between Julius Caesar and the young Egyptian Cleopatra.
A tragic love, resulting in the fruit who is Cesarion, the illegitimate boy, whose legitimization proves to be a struggle that costs everything.
The young and inexperienced ruler, the beautiful Cleopatra, sets out to seduce a mature and successful consul, Julius Caesar. He pushes himself, for the sake of his empire, into a love that cannot have a happy ending, no matter how powerful and long it may be. We see the top notch mastery of Tamás Náray's color science on the canvas as he uses innumerable shades of burgundy, red and crimson: the countless shades of a single color is enough for the artist to convey infinity.' prof.dr. Valeriano Venneri

Aligning with the constellations of Virgo and Libra the artist brings the viewer into contact with many celestial deities by invoking the sky goddess Dea Caelestis. In Rome, Libra was a symbol of divine justice and earthly laws, something that was passed down to present days.
The collapsing geometric forms of calm violet shades lead the viewer into the slate gray timeless heights. Golden, fertile rain delivers the processes that keep the world in motion. The appearance of reds highlight the manifestations of the heavenly points on earth, as we must remember that in the Roman Empire divine and heavenly justice went hand in hand with earthly justice.'  prof.dr. Valeriano Venneri

'The consecrated fire is of fundamental importance in the history of many known and recognized ancient peoples, hence it has a prominent role in Roman life also. The ‘Fire Consecration’ by Tamás Náray is an extremely expressive work of art.
The fire, lit in honor of Mars, the protector of the city of Rome, is represented by soft coloring above like opal yellow white, and the golden bread and red wine are diversified with blue lapis lazuli. The intensity and countless shades of red tones emphasize the primacy of the god Mars in the life of the city of Rome and renew the protection resulting from it.' prof.dr. Valeriano Venneri

'Building a large and lasting empire like Rome has positive aspects: the construction of monuments, aqueducts and very important road networks, however, the process of conquest also has tragic and dramatic aspects. In the painting ‘The Burning of the Mouseion’, the artist creates a very specific visual ensemble where he paints the flames precisely, as a result of which we can see the destruction of a world's culture. The details are abstract: each color carries a different meaning in the world of science and culture. In the middle of the frame a staring figure in a blue jacket appears, whose rigid immobility symbolizes the puzzledness of posterity. The Library of Alexandria will be consumed by flames.' prof.dr. Valeriano Venneri

'With the painting of Aeneas, one of the founders of Rome, Tamás Náray tells the story of the journey and the adventures that we know from Virgil's masterpiece of the same title. After the Trojan War, Aeneas embarks on a long journey at sea, which leads him straight to the estuary of the Tiber, that is, to the future Rome.
In the artist's magnificent painting we can observe thousands of flowing shades of deep blue, turquoise, aqua and petrol blue, typical of the seas seen and sailed by Aeneas, a sea that almost inevitably merges together with the skies. With the red of double tone and meaning, we can remember his love for Dido on one hand, and the defeating of the Trojans on the other.' prof. dr. Valeriano Venneri

'The still, created with impressive formal courage, captures a cathartic event. Despite the terrible destruction of the released energies, the wide, grandiose painting carries the possibility of ascension within it.' dr. Szilvia Hájer

'The event brought to the canvas takes place in 390 BC, on one of the seven hills of Rome, the Capitolium, where the geese also lived. The Gauls attack Rome and force the population within the walls without food. However, the goose is a sacred animal in Roman mythology, so their lives are spared. Under the cover of night the enemy sneaks up to the walls to raid the city, but the loud screeching and panicked flapping of the geese alerts Marcus Manlio, the former Roman consul, who thus can avert the lurking danger in time.
Tamás Náray creates a large-scale work of art in both design and dimensions to tell this story. The frame shows many clear and abstract references. Special mention should be made of the masterful blending of shades in the applied layers of paint: the use of red is downright brilliant, and the millions of delicate brushstrokes are exceptional, achieving such a transparency that can be seen in case of the yellows and greens on the blue coating.'   prof.dr. Valeriano Venneri

'The dethronement of Romulus Augustulus marks the end of the Western Roman Empire. His short reign of only ten months coincides with this mighty event. We remember that the Eastern Roman Empire actually lasted until 1453, til the Ottoman siege of Constantinople and its failure. In the interpretation of this tragic event, the artist highlights the memories of the wealth, the painful crisis and the end of the Empire. The upper part interwoven with gold plating reminds us of the seemingly invincible imperial era of great conquests, a ‘golden’ era; the center of the frame seems solid, but the geometric elements entering the whirling red surface indicate breaches; the use of the black, rough texture at the bottom refers to the sediment that marks the end of the Western Roman Empire.'  prof.dr. Valeriano Venneri