Collection, Gold Coast City Gallery, QLD, Australia
Description
International singer Tina Arena recently viewed her first ever portrait, and exclaimed "It's absolutely beautiful. Thank you - I feel honoured."
Dominating the foreground; a superb sculpture by Claude Poirier, executed in 1711, which Watson sought out at the Louvre Museum, and which honours Arena's celebrated career in France. She is distinguished by being the first Australian to be awarded the Knighthood of the Order of National Merit by President Nicholas Sarkozy for her contribution to French culture.
Flowers native to Australia provide a dazzling colour contrast to the singers emerald green dress. Arena, who is one of Australia's highest selling female vocal artists, has previously declined to pose for painted portraits, but told Watson "When I first saw your portrait of Stephen Fry, I knew the time had arrived."
