Babe Ruth, c.1927 - Nickolas Muray - Framed art Print

Miklós Mandl, who would later be known as Nickolas Muray (15 February 1892 – 2 November 1965), was a man of many talents, gifted not only in photography but also in Olympic saber fencing. Born in Hungary, Muray was a standout name in 20th-century American photography, famous for his vibrant, technically adept colour portraits. His most famous muse was the formidable Frida Kahlo, with whom he had an intermittent yet lasting relationship.

Muray's life began in Szeged, Hungary, in a middle-class Jewish household. His artistic journey kickstarted in Budapest's graphic arts school, where he refined his skills in printmaking and photography. Sensing the onset of war, he relocated to New York in 1913 and began his career as a colour printer. By the early '20s, his photography studio was a Greenwich Village staple, and his celebrity portraits were regular features in Harper's Bazaar.

His relationship with Kahlo, spanning over a decade, saw him capturing numerous fascinating images of the artist, including an iconic portrait of her seated in a floral ensemble against a vivid backdrop. As the years rolled on, Muray shifted his focus to commercial photography, creating memorable advertisements for Lucky Strike and a notable wartime propaganda piece, "Soldiers of the Sky".

A committed fencer, Muray competed commendably in the 1928 and 1932 Summer Olympics before his life ended suddenly during a fencing session at the New York Athletic Club on November 2, 1965.

Muray's legacy in photography lives on, with his work being part of the permanent collections of prestigious institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the George Eastman Museum in Rochester.