A fine Hungarian artist, Bela Sziklay, first studied art in his native Hungary, and at the age of twenty three continued his artistic studies in France. At the end of 1934 Sziklay decided to move to Italy where he spent his career as an artist specializing in etching scenes of landmarks in Venice, Florence, Rome and other locations. According to Luigi Sziklay, his father also created a portrait of Pope Pius 12 and both he and his wife were invited by the Pope to a private audience. Bela Sziklay held many sole exhibitions in Rome, Tuscany, Florence, Montecantini, Venice and elsewhere. Statues in Florence (Firenze) is a striking example of the architectural art he created while in Florence. The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco includes several Bela Sziklay etchings in its permanent collection.