Hidden Art by Iris Murdoch Unveiled

Newly discovered artworks by author Iris Murdoch, created at the start of World War II, are set to be displayed for the first time. More than 80 pieces, including paintings and sketches, were found in a secret attic room at her former home in north Oxford. Dr. Miles Leeson, director of the Iris Murdoch Research Centre, discovered the collection last year.

The artworks reveal Murdoch's early interest in surrealism and her fascination with the female nude. Among the finds is the only known self-portrait by the author, dated January 7, 1941, and four surrealist landscape paintings from 1939-1941. These pieces are thought to reflect the despair and anxiety of the war period.

Twenty-five of these newly discovered works, including the self-portrait and surrealist landscapes, are now on exhibition at the University of Chichester Library until December 10. The exhibition, 'Iris Murdoch Amongst the Artists,' also features major artworks previously known to have been painted by Murdoch.

Leeson noted that these artworks demonstrate Murdoch engaging with her world in a new light, adding a previously hidden dimension to her artistic identity. He believes the works show links to her later literary masterpieces, prompting a re-evaluation of her complexity in the 21st century.