Bust of Winston Churchill (Epstein)
Background
Epstein applied to become a
The bust of Anderson was completed quickly, but Churchill's bust was delayed as the politician could not find time to sit for the artist until December 1946 and January 1947. By then, Churchill had left Downing Street, but his London residence at Hyde Park Gate was opposite Epstein's home. After three sittings at the artist's studio, Epstein visited Churchill at Chartwell for three further settings. While Epstein worked, Churchill smoked cigars and gave dictation to a procession of secretaries.
Description
The completed bronze bust is approximately 12 inches (30 cm) high, excluding the base. In the words of the Imperial War Museum: "This is a powerful work. Churchill's ringed eyes display not only focus but also clarity of vision: the rough surface, his formidable grit and determination."
Casts
The work was completed in 1947 and cast in an edition often said to number 10 (but more, perhaps 12 or 16, are thought to exist). The casts are extremely rare and valuable with one being exhibited at the
A cast was donated to the White House in 1965, under the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson, by a group of American wartime friends of Churchill, including W. Averell Harriman, and also Frederick L. Anderson, David K. E. Bruce, Ira C. Eaker and Carl Spaatz. In recent years, this cast has been displayed on the second floor of the White House, outside the Treaty Room, which is now part of the President's private rooms. In a 2015 press conference, President Barack Obama confirmed that the cast was moved partially to make way for a new bust of Martin Luther King Jr. in the Oval Office while reiterating his admiration to Churchill.[2] It was temporarily moved back into the Oval Office in January 2017, after the inauguration of Donald Trump, until it was replaced by a cast from the British Government Art Collection (GAC).
The GAC has two casts. One was acquired at auction in 1983. It has been in
The bust was ultimately returned to the Oval Office in January 2017 under the Trump presidency; before again being removed in 2021 as part of a re-design upon the election of Joe Biden which included busts of Rosa Parks and Cesar Chavez.[5][6]
The GAC's second cast of the Epstein bust was acquired at auction in 1986, and is on display at the British Embassy in Paris. The GAC also has two bronze busts of Churchill, and a small bronze sculpture of Churchill with his wife Clementine, all by Oscar Nemon.
See also
References
- ^ Winston Churchill Bust, Cussons-Goodwin Family Archives and Collection
- ^ "President Obama Explains Why Winston Churchill's Bust Was Removed From the Oval Office". ABC News. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
- ^ "In context: The Winston Churchill and MLK busts". PolitiFact. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
- ^ "Here's the real story about the Churchill bust in the Oval Office". Washington Post. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
- ^ Liptak, Kevin (22 January 2021). "Reaction to Churchill bust removal muted for Biden after outrage for Obama". CNN. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
External links
- Sir Jacob Epstein, Bust of Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, Government Art Collection (in Washington DC, acquired 1983)
- Sir Jacob Epstein, Bust of Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, Government Art Collection (in Paris, acquired 1986)
- Jacob Epstein, correspondence with Ministry of Information, Imperial War Museum
- Bust of the Rt Hon Winston Churchill, Imperial War Museum
- Bust of Sir Winston Churchill, Centre Georges Pompidou
- Bust of Sir Winston Churchill, MacConnal-Mason Gallery
- Sale at Christie's, 17 November 2011
- Sale at Sotheby's, 10–11 June 2014
- Sale at Bonhams, 17–18 November 2014
- Sale at Sotheby's, 9–10 June 2015
- Sale at Christie's, 26 November 2015
- Busted: Blair gives public treasure to White House, The Guardian, 28 August 2005
- White House admits it did return Winston Churchill bust to Britain , The Daily Telegraph, 29 July 2012
- The Case of the Two Churchills, The New Yorker, 1 August 2012
- Ted Cruz's claim that one of Obama's 'very first acts' was returning a bust of Churchill, The Washington Post, 27 January 2015
- The Churchill Bust: Not Again!?, Richard M. Langworth, 15 November 2016
- The two Winston Churchill busts, Obama, Trump and Nigel Farage, iNews, 13 November 2016
- The Churchill bust is actually a tale of two statues, iNews, 20 November 2016
- Here's the real story about the Churchill bust in the Oval Office, The Washington Post, 23 January 2017
- A White House Diary, Lady Bird Johnson, p. 327
- Winston Churchill, Hallmark Art Collection