Isabella Flores
Winston Churchill was a descendant and admirer of the first Duke of Marlborough, John Churchill, who lived between 1650 and 1722. A portrait of the duke, which was one of Winston Churchill's most beloved paintings, was restored and put on public display at Chartwell, a country house in southeast England that once belonged to him. The painting was based on a 1705 portrait by Adriaen van der Werff and was given to Churchill by Lord Saltoun of Scotland in 1942. Churchill was also an artist himself, and one of his most famous paintings is The Goldfish Pool at Chartwell, done in the 1930s. However, the painting being referred to in the prompt might be the one by Graham Sutherland, which was commissioned by the members of the House of Lords and the House of Commons to celebrate Churchill's 80th birthday in 1954. Churchill hated the portrait, and it was taken to his country home but never displayed. The painting's fate is unknown, but some speculate that it was burned by Churchill's wife, Clementine.
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What You'll Learn
Winston Churchill's portrait by Graham Sutherland
The Portrait of Winston Churchill is a painting by English artist Graham Sutherland that depicts the British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill. It was created in 1954 and was disliked by Churchill, who thought it made him look "half-witted". Within a year, the portrait was destroyed by his wife, and only preparatory sketches survive.
Sutherland was commissioned to paint a full-length portrait of Churchill by the Houses of Parliament to mark his 80th birthday. Sutherland received 1,000 guineas for the painting, funded by donations from members of the House of Commons and House of Lords. The painting was based on numerous drawings and sketches of Churchill, some of which were done when the statesman was unaware he was being observed. Sutherland struggled with capturing Churchill's face and head on canvas, repainting this area numerous times.
Churchill's reaction to the work was mixed. While he initially expressed enthusiasm, he later became critical, requesting changes to the neckline of the depicted figure. Churchill's family also had reservations about the portrait. His cousin, Shane Leslie, described it as "strange", while his son Randolph thought it made him look "disenchanted". Lady Spencer-Churchill, Churchill's wife, believed it was a good resemblance but also said it made him look too cross.
Despite its controversial reception, the portrait has been defended by some. Art historian Jonathan Black described it as "by far the best portrait" of Churchill, and Sutherland himself saw it as a depiction of the man behind the legend. Today, the surviving sketches and recreations of the original painting can be found in various collections and have been displayed in exhibitions and auctions.
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The Crown's depiction of the painting
The Crown depicts the painting of Winston Churchill by Graham Sutherland as a "lost" work of art. In the series, the painting is commissioned by the House of Commons and the House of Lords as an 80th birthday gift for the Prime Minister.
The painting is unveiled on November 30, 1954, in Westminster Hall, with Churchill himself in attendance. He is unhappy with the piece, describing it as a “remarkable example of modern art”, which is not meant as a compliment. Churchill is said to have considered the portrait unflattering, and even "filthy and malignant", according to one source.
The Crown recreates the tension between the artist and the subject, with Churchill seeking a more flattering portrait and Sutherland defending his work. The series also explores the idea that the painting represents Churchill's frustration with ageing and his struggle with the idea of moving into the next stage of his life, no longer being Prime Minister.
Following its unveiling, the painting is taken to Chartwell, the Churchill family estate, instead of being hung in Westminster Abbey as intended. According to The Crown, Clementine Churchill, Winston's wife, wanted to protect her husband and get rid of the offending item. The series depicts her burning the painting in their back garden, though this is disputed by some sources, which suggest the painting was secretly removed from Chartwell by Clementine's secretary, Grace Hamblin, and her brother.
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The painting's disappearance
The painting that hung on the wall above Winston's bed had always been a source of comfort and inspiration for him. It was a beautiful and unique landscape, depicting a golden country scene with a windmill and a distant, hazy view of a rustic, idyllic village. The painting had a strange and almost magical quality to it, with a warm, soft light that seemed to glow from within. It was a tranquil and peaceful scene, a stark contrast to the harsh and oppressive world of Oceania and the Ministry of Truth, where Winston worked. The painting represented a world that was seemingly free from the watchful eye of Big Brother, a place where nature and beauty could exist without the intrusion of the Party. This made it all the more valuable to Winston, who found solace in the idea of a world untouched by their oppressive regime.
One day, Winston returned home from work to find that the painting was gone. At first, he thought that he was mistaken and searched his entire apartment, but it soon became clear that the painting had indeed been taken. Winston felt a sense of panic and despair wash over him. The painting was not just a decoration but a symbol of hope and freedom, a reminder of a world that existed beyond the reach of the Party. Its disappearance felt like a personal attack, as if Big Brother was intruding on the one private and sacred space he had left.
Winston's mind raced as he tried to make sense of what had happened. Had someone broken into his apartment and stolen it? But that seemed unlikely, as he had left his apartment in perfect order, with no signs of forced entry. Perhaps the Thought Police had taken it, believing it to be a symbol of thoughtcrime or an indication of Winston's unapproved thoughts and longings for freedom. Or maybe it had been taken by the Ministry of Truth as part of their constant surveillance and control over the population.
The disappearance of the painting left Winston feeling vulnerable and exposed. Without the painting's comforting presence, he felt more isolated and alone than ever. He knew that he could not report the missing painting to the authorities, as it would surely be seen as a sign of dissent or disloyalty, leading to harsh repercussions. Instead, he was forced to carry on as if nothing had happened, all while feeling a constant sense of loss and unease.
From that day on, Winston felt like he was living in a state of constant fear and uncertainty. The disappearance of the painting was a stark reminder of the fragile nature of his existence and the ever-present power of Big Brother. It represented the gradual erosion of his privacy and the realization that nothing was truly safe or sacred in the world of Oceania.
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Winston's room in *New Girl*
In the episode 'The Landlord', there is a scene in which Winston enters a closet in his room and finds a sexual mural painted on the wall. This mural is described as being illuminated by black light and is referred to as the 'sex wall' or 'sex mural'. The landlord insists that the mural must be painted over, but in later episodes, it is seen on the wall behind Winston's bed. Some fans have speculated that this is the result of a prank played by Schmidt, who previously occupied the room and was responsible for creating the mural.
The mural is referred to as the 'intergalactic ass dojo' and is believed to have been created by a highly talented graffiti artist. It is unclear why the mural's location changes between episodes, with some fans suggesting that this may be due to continuity errors or scenes being cut.
Overall, Winston's room in *New Girl* is a source of intrigue for fans, with the mysterious mural and the room's layout contributing to ongoing discussions and theories about the show.
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The mural in Winston's room
The mural's existence has also raised questions about the layout of the apartment, as some viewers have noted inconsistencies in the way Winston's room is depicted. Some have suggested that Winston's room may be a subsection of another room or that there may have been continuity errors in the show.
While the specific details of the mural remain unclear, it is clear that its presence in Winston's room has sparked a lot of discussion and theories among fans of the show.
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