This stamp issue celebrates the 150th anniversary of the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) and features five paintings by Australian artists drawn from the collection of the NGV.

Flowers have long been a favourite subject of artists, and this stamp issue features a selection of floral still life paintings. 

• A bunch of flowers (1930) by Nora Heysen (1911-2003), who was best known for her exquisite still life paintings and portraits. Heysen was born in Hahndorf, South Australia.
• Camellias was painted by the artist, teacher and critic Arnold Shore (1897-1963) in 1937. Shore adapted his postimpressionistic painting style to depict the Australian bush, and also painted still lifes and occasional portraits.

• Fruit and flowers was painted circa 1924 by Vida Lahey (1882-1968), who began her art studies in Brisbane around 1903, before training at the National Gallery School, Victoria.
• Still life, Zinnias by Roy de Maistre (1894-1968) dates from 1925-30. De Maistre was one of the leading exponents of early modernism in Australia and a pioneer of post-impressionism and cubism in New South Wales.
• Sir Hans Heysen (1877-1968) was one of Australia’s best known landscape painters. He changed the way we view the Australian landscape, with his distinctive gum trees having now become a part of our national imagery. While in some ways not typical of his work, A cottage bunch, from 1930, is no less accomplished.

Issue Highlights
The maxicard set brings in to sharper detail these striking floral arrangement paintings. They are superb as a framed set for all to enjoy. The decorative gutter strip incorporates tubes of artist paint as graphic elements.

Technical details

published March 27th, 2011