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The Depiction of Queen Elizabeth II - 1955–57 Queen Elizabeth II Definitives

The Depiction of Queen Elizabeth II

The sculptured head of Queen Elizabeth II by Leslie Bowles was utilised by the Post Master General's Department for the stamp issue of 1955 (issued after Bowles' death).

Leslie Bowles was born in Sydney in 1855. He began his studies at the Brisbane Technical College in modelling and woodcarving, and in 1910, won a McConnell scholarship and travelled to London. While in England, he studied at the South London School of Sculpture and the Royal Academy School and became an assistant to Betram MacKennal, another expatriate Australian sculptor working in England.

Bowles was employed by the Australian War Memorial on the production of dioramas depicting significant events from the First World War. He worked in the modelling section with a team of other artists, including Charles Web Gilbert and Wallace Anderson. Bowles became head sculptor of the modelling section at the Memorial, and remained in this position until 1931. His work also included the supervising the repair, and casting in bronze. Bowles produced several sculptures for the Memorial, including The man with the donkey, a memorial to Simpson and his donkey. This sculpture would also be used as the basis for Australian stamp issue of 50th Anniversary of Gallipoli landing of 1965. With Napier Waller, Bowles also designed the initial sculptural feature for the Hall of Memory. He was also often called upon for advice on the commissioning of sculptures and memorials right up until his death in 1954, these included sculptured head of Queen Elizabeth II for the Post Master General's Department stamp issue of 1955 issued after Bowles' death.

sculptured head of Queen Elizabeth II for the Post Master General's Department stamp issue of 1955

Preliminary designs for the seven and a half pence stamp based on a sculptured bas-relief head by William Leslie Bowles 1885-1954.

Preliminary designs for the seven and a half pence stamp based on a sculptured bas-relief head by William Leslie Bowles 1885-1954