William Dargie (1912-2003), Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 1954. Historical Memorials Collection, Parliament House Art Collection.

The Historical Memorials Collection (HMC) includes portraits of Australia's Head of State, including the reigning British Monarchs and their representative Governors-General since Federation.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was the longest-reigning British monarch, a period that spanned the term of 16 Australian Prime Ministers. After The Queen’s visit to Australia in 1954, Sir William Dargie was commissioned by industrialist James P. Beveridge to paint a portrait for the HMC. Dargie was a renowned Australian artist, having won the Archibald Prize eight times between 1941 and 1956. He also served as a long-term member, and eventually the chair, of the Commonwealth Art Advisory Board, which advised the HMC Committee. 

This portrait was painted ‘from life’ over the course of five sittings at Buckingham Palace during November 1954. Considered a national icon the painting is also known as the ‘Wattle Queen’ or the ‘Wattle painting’. These titles refer to Australia's national floral emblem the golden wattle (Acacia pycnantha Benth.), which Norman Hartnell incorporated into the design of the ball gown.

The commissioning process fosters an active collaboration between the artist and the sitter, allowing time for the portrait to become a shared experience. Australia’s first woman Governor-General Dame Quentin Bryce commented on the experience of being painted by the artist Ralph Heimans, noting his,  

… careful preparation, his astute observations, curiosity, conversations, ideas shared amid long pauses for deep concentration.