04 Works & Movie, The Art Of The Nude, Naked Jean Simmons in Spartacus , with footnotes # 24

Richard C. Miller (1912-2010)

Jean Simmons in Spartacus

Spartacus (c. 111–71 BC) was a Thracian gladiator who was one of the escaped slave leaders in the Third Servile War, a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Little is known about Spartacus beyond the events of the war, and surviving historical accounts are sometimes contradictory and may not always be reliable. However, all sources agree that he was a former gladiator and an accomplished military leader.

This rebellion, interpreted by some as an example of oppressed people fighting for their freedom against a slave-owning oligarchy, has provided inspiration for many political thinkers, and has been featured in literature, television, and film. Although this interpretation is not specifically contradicted by classical historians, no historical account mentions that the goal was to end slavery in the Republic.

Richard C. Miller (1912-2010)

Jean Simmons and Kirk Douglas filming the nude river scene in Spartacus

Spartacus is also a 1960 American epic historical drama film and stars Kirk Douglas in the title role.

Spartacus forms a quiet relationship with a serving woman named Varinia (Jean Simmons), whom he refuses to rape when she is sent to "entertain" him in his cell. Spartacus and Varinia are subsequently forced to endure numerous humiliations for defying the conditions of servitude. 

The gladiators overwhelm their guards and escape into the Italian countryside. Spartacus is elected chief of the fugitives and decides to lead them out of Italy and back to their homes. More on the Spartacus film

Richard C. Miller (1912-2010)

Jean Simmons and Kirk Douglas filming the nude river scene in Spartacus

Jean Merilyn Simmons, OBE (Order of the British Empire), (31 January 1929 – 22 January 2010) was an English actress and singer. One of J. Arthur Rank's "well-spoken young starlets", she appeared predominantly in films, beginning with those made in Great Britain during and after the Second World War, followed mainly by Hollywood films from 1950 onwards.

Simmons was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Hamlet , and won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for Guys and Dolls. Other notable film appearances included Young Bess, The Robe, Elmer Gantry, Spartacus (Her last big movie was Stanley Kubrick's Spartacus), and The Happy Ending, for which she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress. She also won an Emmy Award for the 1983 miniseries The Thorn Birds. More on Jean Simmons

Richard C. Miller (1912-2010)
Jean Simmons and Kirk Douglas filming the nude river scene in Spartacus

Richard C. Miller (1912-2010) is known for his iconic photographs of Norma Jeane Dougherty (Marilyn Monroe) and James Dean. He photographed many of Hollywood’s biggest celebrities. Dick also documented the construction of the Los Angeles freeways. He was a close friend of the photographer Brett Weston and photographed Brett and his father, Edward Weston.

Dick is also known for his use of the carbro process to make vivid archival carbro images.

His work is part of the permanent collection of the Getty Museum and has been exhibited at that museum. It has also been shown at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum and at private galleries. His photographs appeared in a variety of magazines, including The Saturday Evening Post, Life magazine, Time magazine and others. More on Richard C. Miller

Jean Simmons takes a smoke break on the set of Spartacus 

01 Photograph, The Art Of The Nude, Incognita, with footnotes # 7

Walter Bird (1903 - 1969)

Incognita, c. 1938

Photoetching

10 13/16 x 8 15/16 in. (275 x 227 mm)

Private collection

Walter Bird (1903–1969) was a British photographer. He became known for his images of nudes and jointly set up a studio, Photo Centre Ltd., with John Everard and Horace Roye in 1939. From 1958 he was chief photographer for J. Russell & Sons, eventually purchasing the business in 1961. From 1958 to 1967 he was the official photographer for the National Photographic Record, initiated by the National Portrait Gallery to record important and influential citizens. He was a fellow of the Royal Photographic Society.

Early in his career Bird worked mostly on advertising commissions and portraits that were published in periodicals such as Theatre World and Tatler. He became famous for his images of nudes and was a rival of the photographers John Everard and Horace Roye. As the intense competition was harming their business, they eventually decided to cooperate instead, which led to them in 1939 setting up a joint company called Photo Centre Ltd.

When Walter Stoneman died in 1958 Bird took over his position as chief photographer for J. Russell & Sons, purchasing the business in 1961. Bird superseded Stoneman as the official photographer for the National Photographic Record, initiated by the National Portrait Gallery in 1917 to record important and influential citizens.

He was elected a member of the Royal Photographic Society in 1936, gained his Associate in 1937 and Fellowship in 1948. He held a one-man show of his work at the Society's house at 16 Princes Gate. He remained a member until his death on 4 March 1969. More on Walter Bird

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