winston churchill painting for his 80th birthday

#WINSTON CHURCHILL PAINTING FOR HIS 80TH BIRTHDAY SERIES#

#WINSTON CHURCHILL PAINTING FOR HIS 80TH BIRTHDAY SERIES#

The Netflix series The Crown dramatised the affair. Sutherland called the destruction of his painting an “act of vandalism.”Ĭhurchill, who painted himself, felt betrayed by Sutherland, with whom he had formed a bond whilst sitting for the artist.Ĭhurchill mocked the portrait, calling it “a remarkable example of modern art” at its Parliamentary unveiling. “This is a terribly powerful painting, a great modern iconic portrait, which a lot of people would enjoy,” he said. Shown the reproduction, Martin Hammer, Professor of History and Philosophy of Art at the University of Kent, said the work was true to Sutherland’s original and should be exhibited. He suggested: “There could be a public debate about its eventual fate should it be hung as intended in the House of Parliament, or should it be destroyed like the original?” “The National Portrait Gallery has one of the original sketches for the work that was destroyed, so it would feel appropriate to me if our recreation of this lost masterpiece was to go on show there.” Let public decide if painting should returnĪdam Lowe, Factum Arte founder, said: “Apart from at its infamous unveiling, Graham Sutherland’s portrait of Churchill was never exhibited publicly.” on Savile Row, which kept samples of the materials used for the striped trousers worn by Churchill in the painting, as well as information on the cut of the jacket. The team even visited Churchill’s tailor Henry Poole & Co. 30th November 1954: The presentation ceremony to celebrate Churchill’s 80th birthday (Getty Images) Savile Row samples for reconstruction Working from Sutherland’s preparatory sketches and oil studies, merged with a digitally-enhanced photograph of the finished painting, Factum Arte produced an exact reproduction of the original. The Churchill portrait will be revealed in a Sky Arts film, Mystery of the Lost Paintings, next week. Too often it's in contrast to our own distorted version.Churchill scholars say the painting, recreated by Factum Arte, a Madrid-based group of artists and technicians, should hang in Parliament’s Westminster Hall, where the original was unveiled. Sutherland's interpretation of Churchill, even six decades later, is illustrative of how most of us similarly detest an honest portrayal of ourselves by others. However, when art meets honesty, it can turn into something more sobering, like a slap across the face.Ĭhurchill experienced this, I believe. Or to better understand it and better imagine it. Sure, one of art's purposes is to reflect viewers' idealized image of themselves or their unrealized world.

Just imagine if an esteemed artist takes a few weeks to paint your portrait with the intention of depicting you realistically more than artistically, and then that bigger-than-life portrait gets publicly unveiled to the world.

You think the photo op went well, but after it posts online, for others to see, you look like a sad tomato. Or worse yet, someone takes your digital photo and posts it on social media. Have you ever left home thinking you look attractive, or at least presentable for public display, and then catch images of yourself later in the day and wonder why you look like a clothes hamper with legs? I have. Or when our vanity or virility enhances the mirror of our self-image.įor instance, have you ever looked at old photos of yourself and thought you didn't look too good during that era, though at that time you felt pretty good about yourself? I have. In fact, they may be even more apropos in our younger days when our looks and image mean so much more to us. The same misperceptions or distortions apply to people of any age, not just at my age or Churchill's age. They see us as who we are, not who we were. This illuminated book in green leather was presented to Churchill by the House of Commons on his 80th birthday, 30 November 1954. We habitually see ourselves in a better light than the rest of the world views us. We see ourselves differently than others see us. Especially an historical figure who once pompously proclaimed, 'Of course I'm an egoist.' Who would want to look like that? Nobody.

Winston churchill painting for his 80th birthday