Artist who created modern image of The Queen to be celebrated in London exhibition

The life and work of the artist who created the modern image of The Queen will be celebrated with a London exhibition as part of the Platinum Jubilee. 

British sculptor Mary Gillick, who died in 1965, shot to fame in her 70s after creating the first portrait of Her Majesty to be issued on UK coinage following her Coronation in 1953.

The portrait, which was used on the coinage of many Commonwealth countries, was used up until decimalisation in 1971, however a new portrait had entered circulation by 1968.  

From her training at the Royal College of Art to finding fame with the royal family, Gillick’s career will be honoured with a display of her work and personal artifacts at the British Museum in June.  

British sculptor Mary Gillick shot to fame in her 70s after creating the first portrait of Her Majesty to be issued on UK coinage following her Coronation in 1953

The portrait (pictured), which was used on the coinage of many Commonwealth countries, was used up until decimalisation in 1971, however a new portrait had entered circulation by 1968

The portrait (pictured), which was used on the coinage of many Commonwealth countries, was used up until decimalisation in 1971, however a new portrait had entered circulation by 1968

Mary was born in 1898 in Nottingham and was educated at the Nottingham School of Art before attending the Royal College of Art for two years in 1902, where she studied under French-born sculptor Édouard Lantéri. 

While studying she met fellow sculptor Ernest George Gillick and they married in 1905, forming a working partnership from their based at their home studio in Chelsea. 

Mary’s first exhibition featured medals and large sculptures in stone and bronze at the Royal Academy in 1911, where she continued to display art regularly throughout her career. 

In 1952, when Mary was 71, her design was selected from seventeen to be used on general-circulation coinage for the new Queen and was notable for portraying Her Majesty without a crown.  

Located in the Asahi Shimbun Displays, the exhibit will run until July 31st as part of Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee celebrations

Located in the Asahi Shimbun Displays, the exhibit will run until July 31st as part of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations

The sculptor worked on the portrait between March and October 1952 and in one session was closely supervised by the Duke of Edinburgh.  

The coin was remastered by Cecil Thomas, an experienced medallist who had been turned down to create the portrait of Her Majesty in favour of Mary.   

A cameo of the portrait of the Queen has been used on British commemorative stamps since 1966 and the original still appears on the Maundy money given out by the Queen each Easter. 

Mary was appointed OBE in the 1953 Coronation Honours and the coin was used up until 1971, after a second portrait by Arnold Machin was introduced into circulation in 1968. 

Struck bronze uniface medal by Mary Gillick, 1941. Left, Bust of John Cadman,First Baron Cadman of Silverdale. Right, Nude female figure kneeling holding up oil-lamp

Struck bronze uniface medal by Mary Gillick, 1941. Left, Bust of John Cadman,First Baron Cadman of Silverdale. Right, Nude female figure kneeling holding up oil-lamp

Struck bronze medal by Gillick in 1945. Left, Bust of Charles Chree, l. Right, Nude cherub standing to front, wearing laurel wreath and holding up scroll with graph

Struck bronze medal by Gillick in 1945. Left, Bust of Charles Chree, l. Right, Nude cherub standing to front, wearing laurel wreath and holding up scroll with graph

The exhibition in honour of Mary will feature items presented to the British Museum by the artist’s family in 2005 including medals created by Gillick from the 1910s to the 1950s. 

History of the Royal Mint: The five portraits of Her Majesty since her accession to the throne in 1952

Mary Gillick 1953 Portrait

Following the death of George VI Queen Elizabeth was modelled aged 25 by 71-year-old artist Mary Gillick.

The artist beat 16 other artists in a competition conducted by The Royal Mint Advisory Committee. 

In the wake of the Second World War the coin was designed to make the Queen appear youthful and optimistic.

1968 Arnold Machin RA Portrait

While Britain did not switch to decimalisation until 1971, decimal coins entered circulation in 1968. 

Five and ten pence coins were introduced to replace shillings and florins with a portrait by Arnold Machin. 

The new portrait showed The Queen wearing a tiara instead of a wreath.

 1985 Raphael Maklouf Portrait

A royal portrait by the sculptor Raphael Maklouf circulated from  1985 to 1997. 

The design showed Her Majesty wearing the royal diadem often worn on the State Opening of Parliament. 

The artists’ initials ‘RDM’ can be seen at the bottom of The Queen’s neck.

1998 Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Portrait

Her Majesty’s fourth portrait was created by sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley. 

The coin, released in early 1998, was designed to show the Queen in a more realistic light.  

2015 Jody Clark Portrait

English engraver Jody Clark created he latest portrait of The Queen, unveiled in 2015. 

Clark is the first Royal Mint designer to create a definitive royal coinage portrait in over 100 years.  

Clark was younger than any of the other four designers to have created portraits of Elizabeth II for British coinage at the time their design was chosen  

The exhibit will also include related dies, punches and plaster models, a set of large-scale plaster models of her portrait of the Queen, and documents relating to the new coins.  

Located in the Asahi Shimbun Displays, the exhibit will run until July 31st as part of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.  

Various other celebrations including a spectacular pageant featuring street theatre and dance will be taking place throughout the extended Bank Holiday weekend to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this summer. 

Organisers, including Pageant Master Adrian Evans said the event, with a budget of between £10 and £15 million and involving participants from across the UK and parts of the Commonwealth, is expected to be one of the biggest celebratory events held on home soil for decades.

Throughout the year, the Queen and members of the royal family will travel around the country attending a range of events to mark the milestone, culminating with the Platinum Jubilee Weekend.

Buckingham Palace said 2022’s extended break will run from Thursday, June 2 to Sunday, June 5 after the May bank holiday – which would have been on Monday, May 30 – was pushed back.

The four-day weekend will begin on the Thursday with Trooping the Colour, which will be staged in full for the first time since the pandemic, and a service of thanksgiving for the Queen’s reign will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral on the Saturday.

Sunday’s pageant will comprise of three acts, with the first seeing both serving troops and veterans take part in a march along The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace.

The second act, entitled Celebration, will feature a puppet dragon larger than a double-decker bus with a wingspan the width of The Mall.

Others taking part will include a trapeze artist suspended underneath a huge balloon printed with an image of the Queen, as well as acrobats and other performers.

The specially-written fairy story There Once Is A Queen by renowned author Sir Michael Morpurgo will be brought to life through artists on the day.

The pageant will have a nod to every decade of the Queen’s reign, and feature horses and corgis to reflect her passions.

Nicholas Coleridge, co-chairman of the pageant, said: ‘The Platinum Jubilee weekend is an opportunity for the country to emerge re-energised and renewed, expressing optimism and confidence.

‘It will be something of a reopening ceremony for the United Kingdom, following a period of uncertainty and hardship, a catalysing moment of unity and fun.

‘Through the fusion of ceremonial and pageantry with razzmatazz and festival, we intend to create a spectacle that is at once energising and memorable and a fitting tribute to the Queen.’ 

The pageant will be privately funded, organisers said, through a mix of corporate partners, business and individuals.

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