British Museum opens exhibit for Queen’s original portrait artist

British Museum opens exhibit for Queen’s original portrait artist

By Jeff Starck , Coin World, Published: Jun 13, 2022, 9 AM

The United Kingdom in early June celebrated the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II — the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne — with a suite of events fitting for the royal moment.

To coincide with this historic event, the British Museum has launched a new display exploring the artist behind the queen’s first coin portrait, Mary Gillick.

“Mary Gillick modelling the Queen’s portrait” is housed in the Asahi Shimbun Gallery, just inside the main entrance of the museum in London. The exhibit runs from June 2 to July 31, and has spawned a new book about the artist and her work.

Gillick, who died Jan. 27, 1965, was one of the oldest artists to have her image of a monarch chosen for coinage.

 The original article can be found at https://www.coinworld.com/news/world-coins/british-museum-opens-exhibit-for-queen-s-original-portrait-artist