Rejected Portrait of Winston Churchill Goes Up for Auction

A portrait of Winston Churchill painted by artist Graham Sutherland, whom Churchill despised, is set to be auctioned at Sotheby’s in London on June 6, with an estimated price of $622K to $995K. The oil-on-canvas study, created as a preparation for a larger portrait that Churchill detested and later destroyed, is on display at Churchill’s birthplace, Blenheim Palace, before the auction. The surviving study captures Churchill in profile against a dark background and offers insight into the backstory of its creation, providing a glimpse into the British leader's concern with his image.