Margaret Olley
(Australia 22 Jun 1923–25 Jul 2011)
Portrait in the mirror
- Location
- 20th & 21st c Australian art
- Further information
In this early self-portrait, Margaret Olley surrounds herself with the things that would preoccupy her throughout her career: the fruits, flowers and exotic objects that she collected about her at home. Her tribute to past great masters of art, seen in the array of postcard reproductions, would also become a frequent feature of her work.
This painting marked an important time for Olley as a young artist commencing her career. She held her first solo exhibition at Sydney’s Macquarie Galleries, from which the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the National Gallery of Victoria both purchased works. The following year, after attracting attention as the subject of William Dobell’s Archibald Prize-winning portrait, she departed for Europe to explore the international art scene.
- Place of origin
-
Australia
- Year
- 1948
- Media
- Painting
- Medium
- oil on cardboard
- Dimensions
- 56.3 x 72.0cm board; 68.3 x 84.8 x 7.0cm frame
- Signature & date
- Signed and dated l.r.corner, brown oil "OLLEY .48".
- Credit
- Gift of the artist 2001
- Accession number
- 454.2001
- Copyright
- © Estate of Margaret Olley
