Sir Winston Churchill by SUTHERLAND Graham (1903 - 1980 after)
£50,000.00
'The Destruction and Rebirth of Sutherland’s Portrait of Churchill'
In 1954 Graham Sutherland was commissioned to paint a full-length portrait of Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill of the United Kingdom. Sutherland received 1,000 guineas for the painting, a sum funded by donations from members of the House of Commons and House of Lords. The painting was presented to Churchill by both Houses of Parliament at a public ceremony in Westminster Hall on his 80th birthday on 30 November 1954.
The painting was intended to hang in the Houses of Parliament after Churchill's death, but after the public presentation, it was instead given as a personal gift to Churchill himself, who took it to Chartwell and refused to display it as he found the portrait deeply unflattering.
After the death of Lady Spencer-Churchill in 1977, it came to light the following year that she had destroyed the painting within a year of its arrival at Chartwell, by breaking it into pieces and having them incinerated to prevent it from causing further distress to her husband. She had hidden the Sutherland portrait in the cellars at Chartwell and employed her private secretary Grace Hamblin and Hamblin's brother to remove it in the middle of the night and burn it in a remote location. Many commentators were aghast at the destruction of the work of art, and Sutherland condemned it as an act of vandalism; others upheld the Churchills' right to dispose of their property as they saw fit.
An episode of the Netflix series The Crown refers to the occasion of the public presentation to Churchill, in which Churchill wryly joked (as John Lithgow’s version did in The Crown), that the portrait was “a remarkable example of modern art.” The comment was not meant as a compliment.
Two copies of the portrait were made. This is the first, and is a superb copy, completed in circa 1970.
(On verso reads 'Dulwich Picture Gallery' where a major retrospective exhibition of Sutherland's work was staged in 2005). It is registered with the Sir Winston Churchill Archive.
The second copy, by Albrecht von Leyden, was completed in 1981. Presented to the Carlton Club in London in 1991, it was destined to be hung in the 'Churchill Room'. However, at the request of Mary (later Lady) Soames, Churchill’s youngest daughter, this did not take place and after the portrait fell from grace the club did not wish to have it on display.
DETAIL
A full length Oil on canvas portrait measuring 105cm deep by 138cm wide.
PROVENANCE
From the Winston Churchill Collection of Major Alan Taylor-Smith (1928-2019).
THE ARTIST
SUTHERLAND Graham (1903 - 1980 after)
Sutherland, a prominent British artist of the 20th century, left an indelible mark on the art world with his unique style and vision. Renowned for his evocative landscapes and striking portraits, Sutherland's work often exuded a sense of mystery and depth. His ability to capture the essence of his subjects with bold lines and vibrant colors earned him widespread acclaim and recognition. Throughout his career, Sutherland continually pushed the boundaries of artistic expression, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire and captivate audiences around the world.
THE IDEAL GIFT
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INVESTMENT
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