Churchill - His paintings [antikvár]

INTRODUCTION Although only one man is proclaimed on the title page as the compiler, this book is in fact the result of a substantial co-operative labour. Most of the catalogue is based on a list prepared, in the company of the compiler, by Mr R. H. Pawsey during the course of the probate valuation of Sir Winston Churchill's estate. Subsequently, considerable amendments were made by Lady Spencer-Churchill and Mrs Christopher Soames, who somehow found the time to examine, with Mr Pawsey, the many hundreds of pictures remaining at Chartwell so that their subjects could be identified and authenticity confirmed. The difficulty of dating most of the paintings, even approximately, was largely overcome with the help of Mr Frank Patrickson, framemaker to Sir Winston in his later years and conservor of many of his canvases. Contrary to legend, Sir Winston gave away a great many of his paintings, not only to his family and friends, but also to his colleagues and members of his household. Some of these gifts were spontaneous, others solicited, but they amount in total to about a fifth of the whole. The discovery of the artist's prodigality would have spelt the end to any ambitions to reasonable completeness for this catalogue had it not been for the generous help of the Misses Hamblin, Pugh, Snelling and Chapman, all secretaries to Sir Winston, and the source of much invaluable information. A number of Sir Winston's paintings domiciled in the United States were brought together at the New York World's Fair in 1965, and Mrs Jane Welby, in the midst of many other cares, sent details of the pictures and arranged for them to be photographed. The majority of the black and white photographs in this catalogue were taken by Mr Tony Fruish, of A. C. Cooper Ltd, who has helped the compiler in many ways, not least in travelling all over England photographing paintings and checking their particulars. His colleague, Mr Rodney Wright Watson, was responsible for most of the colour photographs. To all these people, to my long-suffering colleagues on The Connoisseur, particularly Mr L. G. G. Ramsey, the Editor, to Miss Jocelyn Selson and the team that produced this book, to Mr Michael Wolff who read the proofs, to my mother who kept the peace, to Eva who made the tea, to Mrs Taffy Rodd and to many others whom it is impossible to mention, the compiler owes a considerable debt of gratitude. Without them this catalogue would never have been finished in the time allotted, nor would it have been successfully completed without the patient understanding of all those who own paintings by Sir Winston and whose names are recorded within it. The theme of unselfish co-operative endeavour was already present at this catalogue's conception, for it was in someone else's evening newspaper that the compiler first read the details of Sir Winston Churchill's will. It was apparent that Sir Winston's paintings might be dispersed, and probable, therefore, that a market might develop in them; fraudulent examples might even be produced. A catalogue, made with the authority of