Sir Jacob Epstein (1880-1959)

This work was commissioned in November 1946 by the War Artist's Advisory Committee. Buckle writes '... it is the finest portrayal of Churchill in existence. Who is the happy warrior, if not he who has an artist of genius to fix his features in paint or bronze?' (loc. cit.).

The previous owner of this work was Eric Estorick (1913-1993), an American sociologist and writer who began collecting art when he moved to England after the Second World War. He was inspired by The Gallery of Living Art in Washington Square College, New York, whose collection included works by Léger, Matisse and Picasso. Estorick began collecting mainly Italian art, and some key pieces were exhibited and on long term loan to the Tate Gallery between 1966 and 1975. Towards the end of his life Estorick set up the Eric and Salome Estorick Foundation, and the Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art was opened in 1994 in Canonbury Square, London.