Australian painter Margaret Olley dies at 88.

The 88-year-old Australian artist Margaret Olley was found dead at her Paddington home, in Sydney's inner east.

In the words of Professor Colin Rhodes, dean of the Sydney College of Arts at the University of Sydney, Olley was the last of a generation of empowering figures in Australian art.

She began painting as a young girl at Somerville House boarding school in Brisbane, developing a long artistic career as one of Australia's most respected still-life and interior artists.

In 1991, Olley was made a Member of the Order of Australia for service as an artist and to the promotion of art, in 2000 she was awarded an honorary degree at the Sydney College of Arts, and in 2006 she was awarded Australia's highest civilian honour, the Companion of the Order, for service as one of Australia's most distinguished artists, for philanthropy to the arts, and for encouragement of young and emerging artists.

She was the subject of this year's winning Archibald Prize portrait by Ben Quilty and in 1948 sat for William Dobell's prize-winner.
Margaret Olley was born in Lismore on June 24, 1923.

Picture: Alan Pryke. Source: The Daily Telegraph
This article contains excerpts from The Australian newspaper.