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An 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

Margaret Olley

(Australia 22 Jun 1923–25 Jul 2011)

Title
Portrait in the mirror
Place of origin
Australia
Year
1948
Media category
Painting
Materials used
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
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.

Bibliography (17)

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

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

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

Look Nov 2005, Nov 2005, 43 (colour illus.).

Meg Stewart (b.1948) (Author), Margaret Olley: far from a still life, Milsons Point, 2005, 186, 196, 479, 505.

Ross Searle (Australia) (Author), Andrew Sayers (Australia, b.1957) (Author), To look within: self portraits in Australia, Brisbane, 2004, 39 (colour illus.).

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

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

Barry Pearce (Australia) (Author), Parallel visions: works from the Australian collection, Domain, 2002, 19, 128, 134 (colour illus.), 135 (colour illus., detail), 145, 147.

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

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

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

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

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

Christine France (Australia) (Author), Margaret Olley, Roseville, 1990, 17, 64, 65 (colour illus.), 178. plate no. 2

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

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

Exhibition history (19)

Margaret Olley (1948), Macquarie Galleries, 30 Jun 1948–12 Jul 1948.

Margaret Olley (1948), The Moreton Galleries, 18 Oct 1948–23 Oct 1948.

Justin O'Brien and friends: a birthday celebration, S.H. Ervin Gallery, 06 Aug 1987–30 Aug 1987.

The art of Margaret Olley (1990), S.H. Ervin Gallery, 03 Aug 1990–09 Sep 1990.

The art of Margaret Olley (1990), Brisbane City Hall Art Gallery and Museum, 15 Sep 1990–07 Oct 1990.

The art of Margaret Olley (1990), Lismore Regional Art Gallery, 13 Oct 1990–17 Nov 1990.

Margaret Olley Retrospective (1996-97), Art Gallery of New South Wales, 25 Oct 1996–05 Jan 1997.

Margaret Olley Retrospective (1996-97), Brisbane City Hall Art Gallery and Museum, 17 Jan 1997–23 Feb 1997.

Margaret Olley Retrospective (1996-97), Newcastle Region Art Gallery, 19 Apr 1997–08 Jun 1997.

Parallel Visions: Twenty-two artists from the Australian collection, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 22 Feb 2002–May 2003.

Margaret Olley: Celebrating Life (2003), Queensland Art Gallery, 08 Mar 2003–06 Jul 2003.

To look within: Self portraits in Australia, University of Queensland Art Museum, 16 Apr 2004–20 Jun 2004.

To look within: Self portraits in Australia, National Portrait Gallery [Old Parliament House], 09 Jul 2004–19 Sep 2004.

Margaret Olley and Donald Friend (2006), Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, 09 Nov 2005–15 Jan 2006.

Margaret Olley and Donald Friend (2006), S.H. Ervin Gallery, 21 Jan 2006–19 Mar 2006.

Margaret Olley and Donald Friend (2006), Dell Gallery, 22 Apr 2006–28 May 2006.

Breaking new ground: Brisbane women artists of the mid-twentieth century, Queensland University of Technology Art Museum, 27 Jul 2007–30 Sep 2007.

Australian modern masterpieces from the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, 05 Oct 2011–27 Nov 2011.

Australian modern masterpieces from the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Newcastle Region Art Gallery, 10 Dec 2011–04 Mar 2012.