I'd always known that Winston Churchill was a passionate painter, but it wasn't until June of 1991, when I saw an article in Victoria magazine, that I saw any of his actual paintings. Needless to say, I kept the issue, and I'm sharing some of them with you here.
His subject matter was often landscapes, boating scenes, gardens, and all things outdoors. He loved painting en plein air, and his medium was usually oils. I have saved some wonderful quotations about painting from Churchill:
"We cannot aspire to masterpieces. We may content ourselves with a joy ride in a paint-box. And for this, Audacity is the only ticket."
"When I get to heaven I mean to spend a considerable portion of my first million years in painting, and so to get to the bottom of the subject. But then I shall require a still gayer palette than I get here below."
He would paint primarily outdoors, but if it was a cold, rainy day, he'd content himself with painting still life subjects and groups at table. The painting above remains at his home, Chartwell.
The interior above is considered the best he ever painted: it is a rendering of the tapestries at Blenheim Palace, the patriarchal home where Churchill was born.
The painting above is a church along a lane in the south of France.
Here's another still life of the silver set at Chartwell, undoubtedly painted during a rainy afternoon typical of the British Isles.
Isn't his work beautiful? I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.
"Politician, statesman, author, Winston Churchill is most fondly remembered by his daughter Lady Mary Soames, standing at his easel." (--Victoria magazine) She chronicled her father's favorite pastime in a book, Winston Churchill: His Life as a Painter.
He once said:
"If it weren't for painting, I couldn't live; I couldn't bear the strain of things."
17 comments:
Sue, I love your posts so much. Your own paintings are lovely and I always enjoy viewing or reading the work of other artists that you share with us. Thank you.
I saved this magazine too. I was amazed at how well he did paint. Its fun to find out about famous people who also paint as a hobby and are very good. Its a great way to turn off stress. Thanks for reminding me about that article. I love his quotes.
I LOVE these little paintings of Churchill's.
And I LOVE yr vases at the top.
Just getting better and better.
I didn't realize how good he was. I went to Blenheim on that trip to England I took way back in my 20's, do you remember? It's a gorgeous estate. Remember how Mommy cried when he died and they played the bagpipes at his funeral?
It was the first time I remember her crying and I was sort of scared.
XO Claudia
Thanks, all!
Candy, glad you enjoyed it--thank you!
Cris, I loved that magazine.
Carol, I love his paintings, too.
Claudia, yes--I DO remember her being very shaken by his death. And he IS quite good, isn't he!?
"We cannot aspire to masterpieces. We may content ourselves with a joy ride in a paint-box. And for this, Audacity is the only ticket."
LOVE THAT QUOTE! Man knew his business. I've only ever seen one other of his paintings and it is not here. He was much more accomplished than I realized.
I totally agree, Laure--I love that quotation of his. So true.
How astounding! I had no idea...and yes, he painted beautifully. I'll have to buy the book. Thank you for sharing this.
A lovely cheerful post about an amazing man on very many levels! Thank you for sharing, I adore the quotes.
Sue, this was a lovely post. Not surprisingly for a great orator, Churchill's quotes were even better than his paintings - but his paintings look pretty darn good.
I missed that issue and I don't know whether to be ashamed or not that when we went to England I sent Bob and Chris off to tour Blenheim while I browsed through the village, finding an alley where I bought a pair of shearling gloves from a place that had been there for a hundred years or more. His paintings are quite wonderful. Thanks for giving us a peek.
Oh, this post delights me no end!! Happy, happy, happy! Thanks so much for sharing!
I can't say that I have actually seen any of his paintings, either. They are surprisingly wonderful! wow
Yes, so weird...I find it hard to think of him as a "painter", but one has to, when looking at his painting!
ronelle
I'd always heard that he loved painting more than anything, and I'd seen photos of him out with his easel, but this was the first I'd actually seen his paintings. Aren't they lovely? He was very talented!
So interesting that such a powerful and influential man needed to paint to release tension - and did it so well. Thanks Sue!
He was quite the painter --- what an interesting story!
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