Iris Murdoch

Sitterback to top

• Dame (Jean) Iris Murdoch (1919-1999), Novelist and philosopher. Sitter in 33 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Ida Kar (1908-1974), Photographer. Artist associated with 1480 portraits, Sitter associated with 137 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Kar photographed Murdoch as she worked on the manuscript for The Bell (1958), one of her most popular novels and the first to be influenced by Plato. Murdoch is seen here at Cedar Lodge, Steeple Aston, where she had moved two years before her marriage to writer, critic and fellow Oxford don, John Bayley.

Portrait setback to top

• Photographs by Ida Kar, 1940s-1950s

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Bedrooms
• Books and libraries
• Clocks and timepieces
• Reading
• Smoking