About the work

This is one of a group of drawings made as studies for a commission by the Royal Mint in 2006 for gold and silver bullion coins representing Britannia. The coins were released in 2007. I see, in retrospect, that she has a rather sad demeanour.

Date and country of birth

1951, GB>

About the artist

Christopher Le Brun PRA (b. 1951, Portsmouth) lives and works in London. Graduated from Chelsea School of Arts, London (1975); and the Slade School of Fine Art, London (1974). Awards include the John Moores XII, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool (1980); and the Turner Medal Watercolour Prize, Royal Academy, London (2005). Select solo exhibitions include New Painting, Lisson Gallery, London (2018); Now turn the page, Arndt, Berlin (2017); Composer, Albertz Benda, New York (2017); New Paintings, Arndt, Singapore (2016); Watercolours, Abbott & Holder, London (2011); and Fifty Etchings 2005, Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge (2008). Select group exhibitions include Under the Night Sky, Albertz Benda, New York (2018); The Great Spectacle, Royal Academy of Arts, London (2018); Contemporary Royal Academicians, Chapel Arts, Cheltenham (2017); Drawing Biennial, The Drawing Room, London (2017); Reception, Rupture and Return: The Model and the Life Room, Tate Britain, London (2014-15); Editions Moon Rainbow, Casa Della Letteratura, Rome (2014); The Royal Academy in Asia, Institute of Contemporary Arts Lasalle, Singapore (2012); and Watercolour, Tate Britain, London (2011).