His first teacher at the Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts was János Vaszary and then Angelo Jank taught him in Munich. He attended the Julian Academy in Paris for three years. He made the acquaintance of Leon Bakst. He worked in Florence and Naples for many years, and visited the cities of Europe on study trips. After the First World War he toured Asia-Minor, Egypt, Tunis, Madeira and the Canary Islands and also spent a good deal of time in England and America. He established an artist colony on his estate in Bicske in 1922 and co-directed a painting school in Eger and Pécs with István Pekáry in 1937 and 1938. Then he made numerous illustrations, stage sets and costumes for the National Theatre. Then he settled in Polgárdi after 1945. During the fifties he spent five years in prison for political reasons.
Bibliography: GELLÉR, Katalin: A szecesszió manieristája. Batthyány Gyula művészete, Új Művészet, Jan. 4-7, 2000.