§ DENIS WIRTH-MILLER (BRITISH 1915-2010) ESSEX LANDSCAPE, WINTER, 1968

Signed and inscribed with title and dated stretcher verso, oil on canvas

(75cm x 89cm (29.5in x 35in))

Note: Denis Wirth-Miller?s profile as an artist deserves to be higher. His skill, innovation and the circles in which he moved all signal to his, at one time, significant position within the twentieth century British art scene. His close yet purportedly extremely tempestuous relationship with Francis Bacon is largely blamed for overshadowing his on-going legacy. They enjoyed a deep friendship and indeed are thought to have collaborated together on a number of canvases in the 1950s. Wirth-Miller and his partner Dickie Chopping (cover illustrator of Ian Fleming?s world famous Bond series) were embedded within the notorious art sets of Fitzrovia and Soho during the war and post war years, their friendship circle including Colquhoun, MacBryde, Minton, Spencer, Craxton, Vaughan and of course Bacon. Many of these relationships were developed whilst Wirth-Miller studied at the East Anglian School of Painting and Drawing under Cedric Morris. He would continue to live in Wivenhoe for the rest of his life. During his career Wirth-Miller exhibited at Lefevre, Redfern and Beaux Arts Galleries.