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 2007 piece commemorates the life and works of Margaret Preston with the reverse
featuring her painting Implement Blue. The reverselegend
states "MARGARET PRESTON 1875 - 1963," "IMPLEMENT BLUE" and the denomination "5 DOLLARS". The
obverse houses the standard Ian Rank-Broadley portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II with the
legend
"ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2007".
Margaret Preston was born in Adelaide in 1875. From 1888 until 1897 she studied still life painting at a number of prominent
Australian art schools. In 1904 she travelled to Europe where she studied in Paris and Munich, she would return to Europe
again in 1912 to exhibit paintings at the New Salon in Paris and the Royal Academy in London. Upon her return to Australia
Preston began producing a number of her most well-known works, including 'Implement Blue'. Her work generally focused on
domestic objects and native Australian flowers.
(Art Gallery NSW, 2017)
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