We acknowledge the Gadigal of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the Country on which the Art Gallery of NSW stands.

Title

Portrait in the mirror

1948

Artist

Margaret Olley

Australia

24 Jun 1923 – 25 Jul 2011

Artist profile

Alternate image of Portrait in the mirror by Margaret Olley
Alternate image of Portrait in the mirror by Margaret Olley
Alternate image of Portrait in the mirror by Margaret Olley
Alternate image of Portrait in the mirror by Margaret Olley
Alternate image of Portrait in the mirror by Margaret Olley
Alternate image of Portrait in the mirror by Margaret Olley

  • Details

    Place where the work was made
    Australia
    Date
    1948
    Media category
    Painting
    Materials used
    oil on cardboard
    Dimensions
    56.3 x 72.0 cm board; 68.3 x 84.8 x 7.0 cm frame
    Signature & date

    Signed and dated l.r.corner, brown oil "OLLEY .48".

    Credit
    Gift of the artist 2001
    Location
    South Building, ground level, 20th-century galleries
    Accession number
    454.2001
    Copyright
    © Margaret Olley Art Trust

    Reproduction requests

    Artist information
    Margaret Olley

    Artist profile

    Works in the collection

    16

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  • About

    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.

  • Places

    Where the work was made

    Australia

  • Exhibition history

    Shown in 17 exhibitions

  • Bibliography

    Referenced in 20 publications

    • Art Gallery of New South Wales, Art Gallery of New South Wales Annual Report 2002, 'Year in review', pg. 8-25, Sydney, 2002, 8.

    • Glenn R. Cooke, The world of Antiques & Art, 'Margaret Olley: a tribute for her 80th year', pg. 24-34, Bondi Junction, Feb 2003-Jul 2003, 24 (colour illus.), 32.

    • Christine France, Parallel visions: works from the Australian collection, 'Donald Friend / Margaret Olley', pg. 128-139, Sydney, 2002, 19, 128, 134 (colour illus.), 135 (colour illus., detail), 145, 147.

    • Christine France, Margaret Olley, Sydney, 1990, 17, 64, 65 (colour illus.), 178. plate no. 2

    • Janet Hawley., Good weekend, 'Queen of subjects', Broadway, 25 Mar 1995, 35 (colour illus.), 36.

    • Ingrid Hedgcock, Christine France, Edmund Capon AM, OBE and Ben Quilty, Portraits: Margaret Olley, Murwillumbah, 2017, 10 (colour illus., detail), 12, 13, 23, 24, 25 (colour illus.), 47, 61.

    • Lenny Ann Low, The Sydney Morning Herald, 'It's artless: Olsen and Olley hold back donations after tax decree', pg. 8, Sydney, 25 Sep 2002, 8 (illus.).

    • Louise Martin-Chew, Art and Australia (Vol. 44, No. 1), 'Margaret Olley and Donald Friend', pg. 114, Sydney, Sep 2006-Nov 2006, 114 (colour illus.). Review of Margaret Olley and Donald Friend exhibition.

    • John McDonald., The Sydney Morning Herald, 'Overdue tribute to an icon of integrity', Sydney, 25 Aug 1990, page unknown.

    • Barry Pearce, Margaret Olley, Sydney, 1996, cover (colour illus.), 6 (colour illus.), 17, 116. plate no. 1

    • Barry Pearce, Look, 'Eulogy for Margaret Olley: given by Barry Pearce on July 29, 2011', pg. 12-14, Sydney, Oct 2011, 13 (colour illus.).

    • Renée Porter, Margaret Olley: painter, peer, mentor, muse, 'Margaret Olley: a celebration of life in paint', pg. 8-36, The Rocks, 2017, 52, 53 (colour illus.), 112.

    • Stephen Rainbird, Breaking new ground: Brisbane women artists of the mid twentieth century, Brisbane, 2007, 33, 35 (colour illus.), 69.

    • Andrew Sayers, To look within: self portraits in Australia, 'The artist's self-portrait in Australia', pg. 6-33, Brisbane, 2004, 39 (colour illus.).

    • Lisa Slade and Rachael Kirsten, Enter Art, Sydney, 2000, sheet number 13 (colour illus.). Education kit produced by the NSW Dept of Education and Training as teaching resource for primary school teachers.

    • Susannah Smith, Look, 'Anatomy of an artwork', pg. 26-27, Sydney, May 2019-Jun 2019, 26 (colour ullus.).

    • Meg Stewart, Margaret Olley: far from a still life, Milsons Point, 2005, 186, 196, 479, 505.

    • Jill Sykes (Editor), Look, Sydney, Nov 2005, 43 (colour illus.).

    • Jane Watters, Reflections: the National Trust Quarterly, 'Margaret Olley & Donald Friend', pg. 22-24, Sydney, Feb 2006-Apr 2006, 22 (colour illus.).

    • Editor Unknown (Editor), The Sydney Morning Herald, 'Massive forms in Margaret Olley pictures', Sydney, 30 Jun 1948, page unknown. Review of Macquarie Gallery exhibition.

Other works by Margaret Olley

See all 16 works