This five dollar silver
proof
piece is part of a set commemorating Australian Art of the Twentieth Century which is itself within the premier Masterpieces
in Silver series. Eight of Australia's greatest artists have been showcased in this set with four released in 2006 and 2007.
This 2006 piece commemorates the life and works of Russell Drysdale with the reverse
featuring his painting 'The Drover's Wife'. The reverse also includes
the text "RUSSELL DRYSDALE THE DROVER'S WIFE" and the denomination "5 DOLLARS". The
obverse features the Ian Rank-Broadley portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II with the
legend
"ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2006."
Born in England in 1912 George Russell Drysdale and his family settled in Melbourne in 1923.
(Mary Eagle, 2007)
After a chance encounter with artist Daryl Lindsay, Drysdale began to study art under modernist artist George Bell. Over
the following years he made several trips to Europe where he attended art schools in London and Paris. His work began to
focus on the themes of the Australian outback and he quickly established himself as a leading member of the Australian modernist
art movement. In 1950 he was invited by prominent British art historian Sir Kenneth Clark to hold an exhibition in London
- this exhibition brought international attention and recognition to Australian art. Dysdale's reputation continue to grow
and in 1969 he was knighted for his services to art and he died in 1981.
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