Arthur Miller at The National Portrait Gallery

This portrait of Arthur Miller is part of The National Portrait Gallery's 2009 Mystery Portrait Exhibition.  Nicola Green spent time with Arthur Miller and his wife Inge Morath at their home in Connecticut in the summer of 2001.  Arthur Miller built his home and most of his furniture himself, including the garden table and benches depicted.  In this portrait Nicola has used sketches she made from life built up with layers of pen and ink and gold leaf to represent Arthur Miller's down to earth, rooted, essence as well as his more glamorous, other worldy, success.

When asked about the meaning of any of his plays, Arthur Miller responded that they are "A distillation of everything you know up to that moment."