ETHEL-CARRICK-FOX-1872-1952-Balmoral-Beach-Sydney-Harbour_-1600x300-1730096784
ETHEL-CARRICK-FOX-1872-1952-Balmoral-Beach-Sydney-Harbour_-1600x300-1730096784

The George Brugler & Jasmine Cowen Collection

In October 1956, the Hungarian Revolution erupted, with thousands of student protesters taking to the streets of Budapest demanding a more democratic political system. The revolution was met with swift and violent force from the Soviet occupying army, leading to a mass exodus of nearly a quarter-million Hungarian nationals. Among them were Elmer and Anna Brugler, with their 10-year-old son George.

The family fled their home in Budapest to a neighbouring country seeking asylum, they were granted refugee status and relocated to Australia in 1957. This formative experience for George left a lasting impression of sentimentality for Europe, followed by a lived appreciation for Australian art and culture. The resulting collection is a blend of both cultures, honouring his family’s journey and his dual cultural identity.

George Brugler & Jasmine Cowen

The Brugler family settled in Northern Tasmania where George's father, Elmer, an experienced engineer, gained a long-standing position working on Tasmania's prosperous hydroelectric scheme.  Despite the initial language barrier, George's academic excellence shone through, earning him a place to study medicine at the University of Tasmania. He undertook residencies in Sydney and Melbourne, specialising in pathology.  His dedication and hard work were evident in his early career, and he soon established himself as a leading pathologist in Hobart’s public health system, spending his hours detecting cancer through his microscope each day, he taught at the University of Tasmania and published academic research that contributed to advancements in the field.

Jasmine Cowen came into George's life in 1994. Originally from Queensland, Jasmine trained as a lawyer and studied a Master of Education at the University of Melbourne, her thesis explored how global managers engage in learning outside of formal channels. She travelled broadly before eventually settling in Hobart, where she worked as a counsellor and naturopath.  Jasmine's lifelong interest in philosophy, especially Eastern philosophy, complemented George's love for art.  They married in 1996, a partnership of love and happiness - founded a mutual passion for art, music, literature, and travel. Jasmine encouraged George to revisit Europe and heal the trauma of his early childhood memories. Through her nurturing and compassionate guidance George was able to reconcile the past and visit Budapest later in life. They travelled together frequently; some of their happiest times were spent on the ski fields of North America and Europe, though they were equally content at home together and with their family and their cherished miniature schnauzers Larry and Lou Lou. In 2001, they decided to relocate from their beachside home in Sandy Bay to Barry Street, in the leafy Melbourne suburb of Kew, only houses away from artist Alma Figuerola’s historic home.

Lot 60, ETHEL CARRICK FOX (1872-1952), Balmoral Beach, Sydney Harbour, Estimate $80,000-120,000

 

Aside from an illustrious professional career, George had an insatiable curiosity for art which offered a stark contrast to his important albeit monotonous work as a pathologist. He had an intuitive eye for quality and so began acquiring colonial works in his early 20s, deftly navigating the disparate sectors of the Australian art market from dealers, galleries and auction houses. He made regular trips to Melbourne and Sydney to visit auctions and galleries and developed one of the best private art collections in Tasmania. His move towards more impressionistic works began with the purchase of a light infused rural scene by James Muir Auld which once cleaned encouraged him to look closer at the condition of painting. His field of options expanded with this understanding that behind the veil of dirt and dust might be lurking a vivid gem just waiting to be uncovered.

Lot 70, HILDA RIX NICHOLAS (1884-1961) Women at Market in Picardy, Estimate $8,000-12,000

In turn his focus shifted to acquiring more post-impressionist and tonal style paintings, moving away from the colonial pieces of his earlier collecting days. A frame enthusiast, George meticulously restored many of the frames in his collection in a dedicated framing workshop in the backroom of his home and as a diligent researcher he acquired a wealth of knowledge and expertise in Australian art, offering fine art valuations and opening a small public gallery in his Sandy Bay home where he could share his collection with other enthusiasts.

George was a passionate writer, making regular contributions to local newspapers, including his column titled 'Art Line', which was periodically featured in Tasmanian newspaper The Mercury. His articles offered candid reporting on the nuances of the art world. He rarely dabbled in contemporary art, although he wrote a heartfelt obituary mourning the passing of Howard Arkley. His writing reflected a playful candour and colourful commentary tempered by sage advice for would-be collectors, encouraging a considered and well-read approach to collecting. This scholarly approach is exemplified in George's collection; he was perpetually researching and tracking secondary market results. An astute admirer of Australian tonal artists from the Meldrum School, his collection features lesser-known women artists such as Esther Patterson, Mabel Hockey and Alma Figuerola who were slow to receive the attention their work so readily deserves.

George Brugler & Jasmine Cowen together abroad

This collection, treasured by George and Jasmine, is a cultivation of a lifetime. Representing years spent contemplating auction and gallery catalogues, researching, writing and discussing art, each piece has been selected with care and consideration. The collection personifies a genuine appreciation for harmonious composition, a balanced palette and the eternal search for the genius in a single brushstroke — It embodies the manifesto of a collector who was a connoisseur of beauty, an art history intellectual, and the meeting of two genuinely curious minds.

View the George Brugler & Jasmine Cowen Collection.

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