Buda for George, a photo from Victoria, Est

Photographer's Note

I've dedicated this photo to George Rumpler - Budapestman - one of the fine photographers of architecture on TE. The house may look not at all Hungarian, and indeed was never meant to. But it was bought by a Hungarian migrant to Australia in the 1860s, and lived in by his large family, and later by his longest surviving daughter until 1981.

This handsome house was built in the gold-mining town of Castlemaine in the heart of the famous Victorian goldfields, in 1861, by a retired Englishman called Smith, who called it Delhi Villa. In 1863 it was bought by Ernest Leviny, a Hungarian silver and gold-smith (born 1818, in Szepes-Szombat) who travelled - like so many others from all over the world - to this 'Eldorado' in the 1850s with one purpose. He brought with him heavy mining equipment which was pulled to the goldfields by oxen. After failing in this pursuit, he returned to his craft and opened a watchmaking and jewellery business in the town. He was successful enough to be able to buy Delhi Villa and immediately renamed it Buda. Two pieces of his work can be seen here.

Leviny's first wife and child both died, but he remarried in 1864, in Tasmania, brought his new, young wife to live in Buda and soon afterwards they began to produce their 10 children. Ernest was well into his sixties by the time the last child was born! Of his six daughters, only one ever married. The other five spent most of their lives at Buda. The last surving daughter, Hilda, made a gift of the house to the Castlemaine Art Gallery and Museum in the 1970s. When she died in 1981, only two generations of the Leviny family had occupied the house for 118 years. Today it is perserved and managed by the National Trust of Australia.

I hope George and other Hungarian members appreciate this association with Hungary in a small rural town in a faraway land.

snunney, Kofman, Cricri, adores, tyro, Budapestman, Glint, adramad, gunbud, Charo, jlbrthnn, jlbrthnn, nobuikehonda, ChrisJ, rodgerg, COSTANTINO, Vasa trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

dta (98848) 2011-08-17 7:13

Hello Andrew ,
A beautiful presentation of this rural house , and also an excellent composition . It is not so eay to include big trunks in pictures . But here , the effect is splendid , may be because the flowers at the foot of the tree. The balance with the pine tree in the right is good . May be it would have been perfect if you'd not cutted the top of it ;)
Regards

snunney (130967) 2011-08-17 7:28

Hello Andrew,
A fine well framed composition of this attractive rural property. The image is well lit and has attractive natural tones and good sharpness. Thanks also for the very interesting note.

Cricri (176) 2011-08-17 9:31

Hi Andrew
Très belle histoire de la famille Leviny
J'aime la présentation de la maison avec le tronc de l'arbre, le petites fleurs et ce très beau soleil, très jolie réalisation
Belle soirée
cricri

janusz2054 (2) 2011-08-17 11:11

Hello Andrew

Very interesting view on nice rural property.
Beautiful natural colors and clarity.Perfect composition.
Best regards
Janusz

adores (46979) 2011-08-17 17:50

Hi Andrew!
A very good dedication! The architecture of the house is surely interesting and I specially like your pov and the idea of including this tree and the daffodils.A very nice shot with very good colours.

ifege (46851) 2011-08-18 0:55

Just been commenting on one of George's photos Andrew. As you say not at all Hungarian except for the occupants but a classic old and interesting country Victorian house.
Just finalising our trip down your way - will email oyu within the next couple of days.
cheers
Ian

MJR (3360) 2011-08-18 2:42

Andrew
A rare treat these days, a post from you.

An elegant composition, with a wealth of detail to keep the viewer's attention. But strange to tell, the daffodils were the things that most caught my eye. Daffodils in Summer ?!
Even after 55 years, and two of those exchanging notes with Antipodeans, it is easy to forget the seasons vary !

If there were a criticism, it looks 'dark', but I don't doubt you present it as is quite intentionally. ( I can say that to you, you who introduced me to the dodge tool ! I may presume to dabble in WS ) Your note, as usual, is fascinating and interesting.

regards
Martin

tyro (30513) 2011-08-18 11:25

Hello Andrew,

What a fascinating story about this house!

Your photograph is perfectly composed and is remarkable for its great depth, no doubt aided by a 12mm focal length. Exquisitely sharp throughout with an amazing abundance of details, the colours are natural and bright and there's fine contrasts. Despite what Martin (MJR) has said, I don't think it's too dark - I can see detail in even the darkest shadows here.

Beautiful!

Kind Regards,

John.

Budapestman (82620) 2011-08-18 12:09

Hi Andrew,
thank you for your kind dedication.:-) Ours nation rather little...to find Hungarians in the world everywhere after all. Unfortunately, the wars in many directions drove us (many people went abroad in 1956).
...and here find Hungarian too... Great!
This is a beautiful photo of this lovely place, I like the composition and the beautiful environment, the colours and lights are very nice, splendid impression, Tfs! Have a nice day! Kellemes napot kívánok!
György

Glint (6171) 2011-08-19 10:43

hello Andrew,
You provide an interesting note to accompany this pleasant view. There's a good dof obtained by the fg tree and flowers and the tree in the bg. Nice light and good sharpness.
best regards,
Bev

adramad (72526) 2011-08-19 12:06

Hi Andrew.
A great composition with this lovely house, I love the POV this trunk in the foreground gives us neatly texture, ideal these flowers in the foreground, the house is old but charming, the great pine in the background adds great charm.
A great brightness with full color and very beautiful.
Have a nice weekend.
Best regards.
Luis.

williewhistler (16606) 2011-08-20 3:54

Hello Andrew,it`s nice to see the spring flowers,but even nicer to see the corrugated roofs, so typical and evocative of that period of Aussie buildings.
We were sort of hoping to get over to Victoria again this year,but events have conspired against us,perhaps next year.
Best wishes Les.

gunbud (34066) 2011-08-21 8:37

Hi Andrew,
This is a very warm architectural scene caught in wonderful lighting that brings out its unique details.
Love the subtle colors especially the contrast between the lush green fore ground and the lovely blue sky.
Informative historical note as well.
Regards, Tom

Charo (51290) 2011-08-21 15:19

Hello Andrew,
Very well captured this house with history, as explained in your note.
I like the frame by placing the building with a tree in front and another behind.
Superb detail and excellent light and colors.
Best wishes,
Charo

ravinmb (1303) 2011-08-23 1:47

Hi Andrew,

The placing of the tree to the side was a good idea and the image is of good quality with good sharpness. I think this is what makes this image simply good.

Best Regards,
Ravin

jlbrthnn (76043) 2011-08-23 3:51

Hello Andrew,
Bravo for this tribute to George Rumpler, and to his excellent photographic work. The photo and the note are very interesting. I appreciate the point of view and the composition very descrtiptives of this housing environment. I also appreciate the link. A beautiful bright and clear image, pleasantly presented from the tree and the flowers. Bravo.
Have a nice day
Cordially
Joël

Bluejeans (64251) 2011-08-25 10:56

Ola Andrew,
Encantadora esta casa de emigrantes Húngaros tem uma interessante arquitetura , gostei muito do jardim no primeiro plano , boas cores e luz , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

DjoleEric (0) 2011-08-27 5:43

Hello.
Beautiful photo.
A good display of colors and sharpness.
Nice work.
Hello.
Đole.

nobuikehonda (3848) 2011-09-06 7:33

Hello Andrew,

Your notes are always very informative. They always impress me very much. I am still thinking of the house of pigeons. I suppose it is still there as it was before.
The image above is very carefully composed. And the foreground is very generously provided. I particularly like the giant tree in the FG. The house is observed through the foliage, and this gives the image a very particular depth.
I also like the style of the house, especially the roofs. They are individually compartmentalized and this feature gives this house a particular character. The house is very well observed and photographed. This is my imagination, but you are in love with this house brought from a faraway land. I find this house with its openness very welcoming for visitors. I always think that the way you observe the world is very original. I am very much interested in the way you see the world.

With my best wishes, Andrew
Have a great week,
Nobu.

batalay (41261) 2011-09-20 19:09

Hello Andrew,

This is an apt dedication to George, who is indeed a first rate artist in producing architectural portraits. The composition — 150-year old house, with a massive tree in the foreground helping to create depth-of-field — the colors, and textures, all collaborate to making this an effective shot.

Warm regards,

Bulent

ChrisJ (171146) 2011-10-09 3:32

Hello Andrew

A nice dedication to Budapestman. And much deserved, as well! Love the repetition of the narcissus flowers in the fg. Good sharpness, contrast & saturation. Tfs!

rodgerg (55767) 2011-10-09 10:31

Hello Andrew,

Excellent presentation of this sympatic house. The tree and too the flower with the white color which arise give a very good FG. This FG give a great depht left/right to the composition. Details and naurtal colors very well collected.
Have a nice week,
Roger

Thanks for your congratulations for my 900th post.

UlfE (14641) 2011-10-16 11:22

Hi Andrew,

Your photo is indeed very good. A very good composition with the tree trunk in the foreground and the the fir tree like tree in background. The depth and clarity are exceptional and the lighting is close to perfect. However, without your excellent and fascinating note it would just have been a very nice photo of rather ordinary house. The note means that you study the house carefully and you wonder how it was to live here with as many as ten children. Perhaps not bad at all in the 19th century. TFS and have a nice week!

Kind regards,

Ulf

jmdias (114170) 2011-12-02 16:10

andrew

what called my attention here was that big araucária tree ahead. nice light and details of this garden and this beautiful house.

hugs

jorge

COSTANTINO (115421) 2011-12-04 7:17

Hello
a fine wellframed composition
beautiful natural colors and
clarity,the flowers add delicacy
and beauty,I especially like pov
great work
regards
Costantino

jadesgran (5433) 2011-12-04 22:48

Hi Andrew
A very informative note and interesting too.Lovely tones and the inclusion of the tree trunk with the rippled bark adds to the picture and is softened by the daffs.Is that a Bunya tree I see on the right?There is a fabulous one growing in a park in Victoria.
T.F.S.
Best Wishes Gladys

Vasa (515) 2011-12-16 15:46

Very similar to Claude Monet house in Vernon. Your note is interesting and complete this amazing portrait of house and garden. Warm regards Andrew!

Branko