Career
De Jeney was a Hungarian artist who came to the United States after fleeing Hungary for his role in a Hungarian anti-communist uprising. On October 23, 1956, De Jeney, then 53, was part of a small group who tried to topple a 25-foot statue of Soviet premier Joseph Stalin in Budapest"s Stalin Square. The uprising was halted at that time by Russian tanks.
De Jeney moved to Saint Louis, Missouri, in part due to his passion for fishing and outdoor activities.
He was a highly regarded portrait painter and was also known for creating replicas of famous oil paintings that rivaled the originals. In 1976, De Jeney moved to Washington, District of Columbia, after receiving a special honor to create commissioned copies of historical paintings.
He also created a renowned etching of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence. De Jeney died in a house fire in 1996 while making violins, a trade he took up in his 90s.
