 |
Iris
It is always easier to draw someone you like. I have been a big fan of Iris Murdoch since I first started to read her in 1998. I used Tom Phillips' portrait for reference. I also used Ida Kar's photograph of Murdoch seen on the dust jacket of Sartre: Romantic Rationalist. I think I have opted for a youthful interpretation, aged only by subtle lines on the face and neck. I am very happy with this. ¶ Writer and philosopher Iris Murdoch (1919-1999) suffered from Alzheimer's near the end of her life. Most people know her as a novelist, but I was introduced to her as a philosopher in my fourth year Aesthetics class at Western. We were asked to read her sweeping text, Metaphysics as a Guide to Morals. It was soon clear that we would not have enough class time for it so my friend Paul decided that we should arrange a reading hour with our professor to make time for Murdoch. As a result, I read Murdoch but not much else. Her first novel was Under the Net, and I would highly recommend it, especially to anyone with a romantic picture of London, England in their head. |
