Mary Gillick, née Tutin (1881-1965), is probably best remembered for the
portrait of Queen Elizabeth II that appeared on UK coins from the
beginning of her reign until decimalization in 1971. This book focuses
on her career as a sculptor and medallist - a career that had begun at
Nottingham School of Art and the Royal College of Art and had already
spanned more than fifty years when she experienced the sudden burst of
national fame that came with the royal commission. Gillick's work
combines the influence of early Italian Renaissance medals with an
appreciation of modernism and shows a readiness to adapt as she
responded to changes in the art market. Her experience also adds to the
debate on the impact on women of marriages between artists (she was
married to sculptor Ernest Gillick from 1905, until his death in 1951)
and the choices open to women sculptors of her time. This is the very
first study of such an iconic British artist to be published, and is
sure to attract the attention of both numismatists and anyone interested
in the history of British art alike.
