Born Josef Braun (1918-2009) in Lodz Poland, he arrived in Australia with his father and siblings in 1933. At 15 he settled in Melbourne and attended Princes Hill Central School. Brown showed an early talent for drawing and was first exhibited at his school.
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Self-portrait, 1906
by George W lambert
Along the way his surname was anglicised to Brown, and after school he began night art classes in painting and sculpture at the Working Men's College (RMIT Uni) in 1934 under artist Napier Waller, and won a scholarship to the Brunswick Technical College. But the ongoing Depression forced him to abandon studies to help support his family. By the late 1930s Joseph Brown was part of Melbourne’s artistic and intellectual circle and friends with Albert Tucker, Noel Counihan andYosl Bergner etc.
Despite WW2 in 1939, Brown continued to make some art. Then in 1940 he enlisted in the Australian Army and served in the 13th Armoured Regiment AIF until 1945. After returning from war service, he became more involved in the fashion industry. That year he married and set up J Brown Mantles, a fashion design business in Flinders Lane. He specialised in evening gowns, occasionally painting and sculpting.
He exhibited with the Victorian Sculptors’ Society in the 1960s but ultimately the demands from his growing fashion business made it difficult to concentrate on art. Over the following decades, Brown established himself in the Australian art world as a collector-dealer. In becoming a leading art dealer and consultant, he promoted a wide range of Australian historical and contemporary artists. He reclaimed the work of forgotten artists, mentored some new artists and was a great advocate for portraiture as an art form.
In 1967, life changed. He sold his fashion business, bought a Victorian mansion in classy South Yarra, and established himself as a commercial art dealer in classy Collins St. Brown had found his vocation, and for the next 15 years the Joseph Brown Gallery held many mixed exhibitions of historical and modern art; plus solo exhibitions. His taste was broad, promoting many artists & genres that had become unfashionable to collectors & academics, including colonial art, marine painting, women artists, sculpture and portraiture. Meanwhile he’d created a striking private collection of Australian art.
Brown loved John Russell, Australia's lost Impressionist who lived on Belle Ile off Brittany and was a friend of Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh and Henri Matisse. In 1968 John Peter Russell 1858-1930: Australian Impressionist opened at Brown’s gallery, with works received from the artist's family. Thus the reputation of one of Australia's most significant artists was rebuilt. Brown also supported and promoted living artists, and the many portraits painted of him offered a visual record to their affection.
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An edition of the Joseph Brown Collection publication was produced to coincide with the 2018 centenary of Joseph Brown’s birth. Photo credits: Joseph Brown Collection.
Bush track Dromana, 1875
by Louis Buvelot
by Louis Buvelot
Frederick McCubbin, Autumn Memories, 1899
donated by Brown to the National Gallery of Victoria in 2004
donated by Brown to the National Gallery of Victoria in 2004
Farm landscape, 1905
by Sid Long,
by George W lambert
Along the way his surname was anglicised to Brown, and after school he began night art classes in painting and sculpture at the Working Men's College (RMIT Uni) in 1934 under artist Napier Waller, and won a scholarship to the Brunswick Technical College. But the ongoing Depression forced him to abandon studies to help support his family. By the late 1930s Joseph Brown was part of Melbourne’s artistic and intellectual circle and friends with Albert Tucker, Noel Counihan andYosl Bergner etc.
Despite WW2 in 1939, Brown continued to make some art. Then in 1940 he enlisted in the Australian Army and served in the 13th Armoured Regiment AIF until 1945. After returning from war service, he became more involved in the fashion industry. That year he married and set up J Brown Mantles, a fashion design business in Flinders Lane. He specialised in evening gowns, occasionally painting and sculpting.
He exhibited with the Victorian Sculptors’ Society in the 1960s but ultimately the demands from his growing fashion business made it difficult to concentrate on art. Over the following decades, Brown established himself in the Australian art world as a collector-dealer. In becoming a leading art dealer and consultant, he promoted a wide range of Australian historical and contemporary artists. He reclaimed the work of forgotten artists, mentored some new artists and was a great advocate for portraiture as an art form.
In 1967, life changed. He sold his fashion business, bought a Victorian mansion in classy South Yarra, and established himself as a commercial art dealer in classy Collins St. Brown had found his vocation, and for the next 15 years the Joseph Brown Gallery held many mixed exhibitions of historical and modern art; plus solo exhibitions. His taste was broad, promoting many artists & genres that had become unfashionable to collectors & academics, including colonial art, marine painting, women artists, sculpture and portraiture. Meanwhile he’d created a striking private collection of Australian art.
Brown loved John Russell, Australia's lost Impressionist who lived on Belle Ile off Brittany and was a friend of Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh and Henri Matisse. In 1968 John Peter Russell 1858-1930: Australian Impressionist opened at Brown’s gallery, with works received from the artist's family. Thus the reputation of one of Australia's most significant artists was rebuilt. Brown also supported and promoted living artists, and the many portraits painted of him offered a visual record to their affection.
Portrait of Joseph Brown,
by Judy Cassab, 1996
Brown also was the trusted adviser to many private individuals, corporations and nearly all state, regional and university galleries, the Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory in particular. And collections assembled by commercial organisations. People who collaborated with him to form significant private collections included Marc & Eva Besen, Joseph & Gerda Brender, Dudley & Barbara Cain, John & Pauline Gandel, and Kerry Stokes.
From 1966 on, Brown donated 460 works of art to public collections! In 1973, he received the Order of the British Empire, then in 1990 by an Order of Australia and honorary doctorates from Monash, Melbourne and La Trobe unis.
Over time, Brown built up a fine private art collections and made major contributions to the Australian art story. A major survey of his work, Dr Joseph Brown, a Creative Life: 65 Years a Private Artist, was presented by the Ian Potter Museum of Art at Melbourne Uni 1999.
With age, Brown became anxious to find a permanent home for the rest of his collection of Australian art, and he was clear that the works would have to be displayed in dedicated rooms. Luckily he was guaranteed that his works would remain on permanent display as a independent collection by the National Gallery Victoria/NGV. So in May 2004 he made the largest and most generous gifts of 19th and C20th Australian art to any public Australian gallery: 154 works worth $35 million. This Joseph Brown Collection recorded the difference he made to Australian culture.
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From 1966 on, Brown donated 460 works of art to public collections! In 1973, he received the Order of the British Empire, then in 1990 by an Order of Australia and honorary doctorates from Monash, Melbourne and La Trobe unis.
Over time, Brown built up a fine private art collections and made major contributions to the Australian art story. A major survey of his work, Dr Joseph Brown, a Creative Life: 65 Years a Private Artist, was presented by the Ian Potter Museum of Art at Melbourne Uni 1999.
With age, Brown became anxious to find a permanent home for the rest of his collection of Australian art, and he was clear that the works would have to be displayed in dedicated rooms. Luckily he was guaranteed that his works would remain on permanent display as a independent collection by the National Gallery Victoria/NGV. So in May 2004 he made the largest and most generous gifts of 19th and C20th Australian art to any public Australian gallery: 154 works worth $35 million. This Joseph Brown Collection recorded the difference he made to Australian culture.
Outlines of Australian art: Joseph Brown collection.
by Daniel Thomas, Melbourne: Macmillan, 1989
Just before he died, Brown supported the exhibition of Masterpieces of Australian Impressionism to raise funds for Cabrini Health. Then Australia's most generous and respected art dealer died aged 91, survived by his wife and large family. Including my closest friend, Joseph's niece.An edition of the Joseph Brown Collection publication was produced to coincide with the 2018 centenary of Joseph Brown’s birth. Photo credits: Joseph Brown Collection.