Maurice Ashkanasy CMG QC (1901–1971) was nine when his family emigrated to Australia from London. He studied law at the University of Melbourne in the 1920s and was admitted to the Bar in 1940. Having served with distinction during the Second World War, he became a leading and influential legal practitioner, serving as chairman of the Victorian Bar Council in the 1950s. He was a longstanding member of the Labor Party, and was deeply involved in Jewish community affairs throughout his life. Ashkanasy helped improve representation to government for Jewish groups, contributed to the foundation of the Judean League and the Victorian Jewish Board of Deputies, and was five times president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.
Karl Duldig studied art in Vienna between 1923 and 1933 and fled to Switzerland shortly before Germany's annexation of Austria in 1938. He then went to Singapore where he ran an art school, but was deported to Australia as an enemy alien in 1940. After a year in an internment camp in Victoria, he became an art teacher while also gaining recognition for his expressionist sculptures. Awarded the Victorian Sculptor's Society Prize in 1956, Duldig received commissions up until the year before his death at age 83.
Gift of Dr Vivianne de Vahl Davis and Professor Neal Ashkanasy 2000. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
© Estate of Karl Duldig
Vivianne de Vahl Davis (1 portrait)
On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves.
Visit us, learn with us, support us or work with us! Here’s a range of information about planning your visit, our history and more!
We depend on your support to keep creating our programs, exhibitions, publications and building the amazing portrait collection!
