The Anniversary Painting

Peter Miller

Oil on canvas, 35 x 44 inches

Inscribed by artist on verso

Framed

American artist Peter Miller (1913-1996) was born Henrietta Myers in Hanover, Pennsylvania. She began using the name Peter Miller after concluding her studies at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1934 and her marriage to fellow artist and Academy student Earle Miller in 1935. She felt collectors and critics would take her paintings more seriously if she was identified as a male. In childhood, Henrietta and her best friend Ruth picked fictitious nicknames for themselves, and Henrietta reportedly decided upon the name Peter because she liked the idea that it was derived from the Greek word for “rock” or “stone”. Drawn to being one with the natural world would prove to be an essential inspiration to her creativity throughout her life. Miller is classified as an American Modernist, a reputation she earned for having shown at the prestigious gallery and premiere showcase for Surrealist painting of Julien Levy in New York in the 1940s. Reviewers of her exhibitions noted the unmistakable influence of the artists Joan Miró, whose work she owned and whom she knew, and Arthur Carles, whom she studied with, and sources in Native American culture, which came from sharing time between her home state of Pennsylvania and New Mexico. Peter and her husband Earle considered New Mexico their spiritual home, and in 1935 they built a ranch in Española, about 25 miles north of Santa Fe. Being neighbors of the indigenous people of the Tewa Pueblo, their crafts and religious beliefs fascinated Peter and the reliance of Native Americans upon the land and the animals permeated her work for most of her career. A Wedding Gift from Peter to her husband Earle Miller. Inscribed "For Pearlie on our 35th Anniversary from Peter"

Additional work by this artist

Game Board

Game Board

Peter Miller
Yellow Message

Yellow Message

Peter Miller
IMG 3181 Orbs 38 125 x 50 LR

Orbs

Peter Miller

Other works in Modern

Four Figures

Four Figures

Peter Miller
Tsankawi

Tsankawi

Peter Miller
Seated Figure

Seated Figure

Peter Miller

Other works in Abstract

Swords in Orange

Swords in Orange

Peter Miller
Morris Blackman Geometric Abstract IV Oil on Board 30 5x48 Lower Center 82 83 LR

Geometric Abstract IV

Morris Blackman
Prayer Paddles

Prayer Paddles

Peter Miller
White Blanket

White Blanket

Peter Miller

Other works in Modernism

Moon Dance

Moon Dance

Peter Miller
House of Stones

House of Stones

Peter Miller
January

January

Peter Miller

Other works in Sold

Sunlight and Shadows

Sunlight and Shadows

Stanley Reckless
School Boy

School Boy

Bernard Harmon
The Delaware Spring

The Delaware Spring

Kenneth Rollo Nunamaker
Raven Rock

Raven Rock

Kenneth Rollo Nunamaker

Other works in Peter Miller Collection

Shields

Shields

Peter Miller
Harvest

Harvest

Peter Miller
Two Harpis

Two Harpis

Peter Miller
November

November

Peter Miller