Foto: BB.LV / Картину Черчилля продают за полмиллиона фунтов
According to ArtNews, the painting in question is "Amaryllis," created in 1948. The artwork depicts a bright red flower in a pot sitting on a table. The concise composition and dark background emphasize the richness of the colors. The piece has an unusual family history. Churchill gifted the still life to his youngest daughter Mary Soames, and in 1995 she transferred it to the Churchill Foundation. Now the painting is set to be sold to direct the proceeds towards supporting the arts as part of the Making Space for the Arts program. The auction is scheduled for October 21, 2026. Christie’s representative Pippa Jacomb noted that the work shows the influence of British artist William Nicholson. According to her, this is evident in the restraint of the composition and the bold use of color. The still life also demonstrates the skill that Churchill achieved as a painter. Painting became one of the main hobbies of the famous politician in his later years. Churchill began painting at around the age of 40 and created about 500 works throughout his life. He primarily painted landscapes but also turned to still lifes. At the same time, the paintings of the former British Prime Minister have long attracted the attention of collectors and are sold for impressive sums. An absolute record was set in 2021 when Churchill's landscape "The Tower of the Koutoubia Mosque," painted in Morocco in 1943, was sold at Christie’s for £8.285 million. This work is considered the only landscape created by the politician during World War II. Collectors are interested not only in Churchill's artworks but also in his personal belongings. Items such as his glasses and even a dental prosthesis have previously been auctioned. The upcoming auction will once again remind us of the lesser-known side of one of the most famous politicians of the 20th century — Churchill the artist, for whom painting was not just a pastime but an important part of life.
