Magnificent Australian art collection donated to the National Gallery of Victoria

Friday 7 April 2004

The Premier of Victoria, Steve Bracks, yesterday announced the gift of 154 key works from The Joseph Brown Collection to the National Gallery of Victoria, Australia's oldest public art gallery.

Over many years, Dr Joseph Brown, a respected Melbourne art dealer, artist and collector, has acquired significant and key Australian works. His gift, including 100 significant paintings and sculptures, and 54 works on paper (watercolors, drawings and prints) represents the largest and most generous gift of Australian 19th and 20th century artworks ever donated to an Australian gallery or institution.

Although such a group of works is priceless in its technical, scholarly and historical merits, independent art advisors have estimated the total value of these art works at $30 million.

At a ceremony at NGV Australia at Federation Square yesterday, the Premier thanked Dr Brown on behalf of all Victorians for this extraordinary and magnificent gift.

'Dr Joseph Brown today takes his place alongside some of the nation's great benefactors,' the Premier said. 'Exactly 100 years ago this year, Melbourne businessman Alfred Felton changed the fortunes of the National Gallery of Victoria when he bequeathed a large part of his estate for the ongoing purchasing of art works for the NGV.

'Today, I am pleased to announce another magnificent act of philanthropy in the same spirit as Alfred Felton's, and the many, many private citizens who, for more than 100 years, have given to our Gallery.

'On behalf of the State Government and the people of Victoria, I express our sincere gratitude to Dr Joseph Brown for his extraordinary generosity.'

Works include: John Glover's A Mountain Torrent c. 1837; Yalla-Y-Poora 1864 by Eugène von Guérard; In the Artist's Studio 1891 by Arthur Streeton; a collection of works by John Peter Russell, including Almond Tree In Blossom 1887, and Rough Sea, Belle îIe 1900; Tree Form 1945 by Russell Drysdale; Floating Dock and Tugboats 1956 by John Perceval; Arthur Boyd's Bride and Groom by a Creek c.1960; Cricketer 1955 by Fred Williams; Nude With Dressing Gown 1967 by John Brack; and one of the greatest of the Heidelberg School paintings, Frederick McCubbin's Autumnal memories 1899.

Artists represented include: John Glover, Conrad Martens, Louis Buvelot, Eugène von Guérard, Tom Roberts, Frederick McCubbin, Arthur Streeton, E. Phillips Fox, Rupert Bunny, John Peter Russell, Margaret Preston, Russell Drysdale, Danila Vassilieff, John Perceval, Albert Tucker, Sidney Nolan, Arthur Boyd, Fred Williams, James Gleeson, Leonard French, John Brack, Jeffrey Smart, John Olsen, Brett Whiteley, and Peter Booth, plus a small group by Dr Brown himself, who trained as a painter, and whose work has been the subject of several exhibitions.

At the ceremony at yesterday's event, Dr Brown highlighted the role of the NGV in the life of the community.

'I am often very surprised to meet people who have never visited the Gallery,' Dr Brown said. 'I stress to them, this is their property. It's their Gallery, they should feel it is theirs. It's not mine, it's not the Governor's, it's not (NGV President of Trustees) Steve Vizard's or (NGV Director) Gerard Vaughan's, it belongs to the people.

'I would like all Victorians to feel they are elite citizens who own this collection, to which I am now making my own contribution.

'Feel yourself rich for having it, and for enjoying it with your children and your grandchildren.'