The painting hated by sir winston s family was until now understood to have been disposed of by clementine churchill who strove to carefully control the politician s reputation after his death.
Winston churchill official portrait painting. It is a portrait which sir winston churchill liked and signed and today it remains the only signed sir winston churchill portrait in existence. Churchill and his wife lady clementine churchill are said to have seen the portrait before its official presentation but it was formally unveiled by the prime minister at westminster hall on 30th. Winston churchill was no adonis but most of his portraitists did what they could to flatter him. Winston churchill diplomatically commented of graham sutherland s portrait of him that it was a great example of modern art unofficially he and his wife clementine hated it.
A painting which over the past 60 years has been ignored by the art establishment despite its national historical value. However when the british artist graham sutherland 1903 80 was commissioned to paint a full length portrait of churchill in 1954 for 1 000 guineas about 27 000 today paid by the house of commons and the house of lords and to be presented in a lavish public ceremony things did not go well. Dear churchillians ias is a distributor to the special released fine art collection by sir winston churchill. The international churchill society ics founded in 1968 shortly after churchill s death is the world s preeminent member organisation dedicated to preserving the historic legacy of sir winston churchill.
Sutherland was commissioned by both houses of parliament to paint a full length portrait of churchill in 1954 for which this is a study. The finished painting was presented to churchill. It is truly one of a kind. In 1954 the english artist graham sutherland was commissioned to paint a full length portrait of sir winston churchill the 1 000 guinea fee for the painting was 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 30 november 1954.