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Sir Winston Churchill: His Life and His Paintings Hardcover – September 28, 2004

by David Coombs (Author), Minnie S. Churchill (Author)

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Sir Winston Churchill began painting during World War II, and it became his lifelong passion. His works, which number over 500, are of remarkable quality and have received the most positive criticism in the English press. "Had he signed his pictures 'Jones,' the critic would still find himself pausing in front of them," noted one Sunday Times of London art critic in 1949. Another opined that "At least a dozen of these pictures will stand against any of the best impressionists." This exclusive, comprehensive collection of the paintings of one of the greatest statesmen in history is licensed by the Churchill Heritage, which will provide marketing support. Written by the renowned art critic who catalogued all of Churchill's paintings shortly after his death, along with Sir Winston's granddaughter-in-law, this sumptuous art book collects all of the images painted by Churchill, primarily in oil on canvas, and in essence provides a look at his life story through his paintings. It also includes authoritative text by the authors, Sir Winston's complete 1925 essay "Painting as a Pastime," and 40 rare, previously unpublished photographs of Churchill and his world, in both color and black and white.

Print length

256 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Running Press
Publication date

September 28, 2004
Dimensions

9.25 x 1 x 12 inches
ISBN-10

0762420812
ISBN-13

978-0762420810
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

After Churchill was forced to resign from the WWI British government in 1915 at the age of 40, he took up oils and dived almost completely into painting. Sir Winston certainly didnt experiment much beyond shifting subject matters, but the "painting muse" that supposedly carried him out of his retirement depression seems to have been an overwhelming, transcendent influence on his later years. Published with the full cooperation of Churchills family, this impressive 9" x 12" book offers a large-scale retrospective of the grand statesmans paintings. Its 500 full-color and black and white reproductions and photos are displayed smoothly throughout the glossy pages and described by precisely detailed captions. Coombs, former editor of The Antique Collector and a lifetime fellow at the Royal Society of Arts, provides historical background and political context for the sometimes-vivid oil paintings. Culled from Churchills first days of painting at his Sulley farmhouse (and holidays in Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, Italy, the French Riviera and the United States), the paintings reflect a sincere interest in the meditative process of art-making, and are reminiscent of Monet, Cézanne and, when Churchill is at his best, perhaps Bonnard. Most are impressionistic landscapes or floral still lifes, along with the occasional portrait, such as one done in 1955 of Sir Winstons wife, Clementine Churchill, and others of various secretaries or political colleagues. The enthusiastic foreword is written by Churchills only surviving child, Mary Soames. Two of Churchills essays seek to explain the impetus behind the political giants second life. As he put it: "We may content ourselves with a joy-ride in a paint-box."
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

"Damn good," said art critic Harry S Truman of a 1958 exhibition of Winston Churchill's paintings, and viewers can declaim as they wish on Churchill's artistic skill, thanks to this comprehensive album of his output. Churchill himself was modest and made no pretense to excellence, regarding his hobby as just that, a serene distraction from the pressures of political life. The authors have reprinted Churchill's 1921 article "Painting as a Pastime," in which Churchill extolled amateur painting as a physical activity ("Just to paint is great fun") as much as for its aesthetic satisfaction. He picked up brush and palette in 1915, and his first efforts were indeed no great shakes--though of biographical interest as they depicted his post on the Western Front. But he worked to improve his technique until he could turn out an accomplished landscape, although the human form often eluded him. A chronology and captions explain the paintings' locales, and photographs show Churchill at the easel in this sunny, colorful treasure for the Churchillian set. Gilbert Taylor
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Running Press; First Edition, First Printing (September 28, 2004)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0762420812
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0762420810
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.85 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.25 x 1 x 12 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,097,592 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,019 in Artist & Architect Biographies
- #105,493 in Arts & Photography (Books)

Customer Reviews:
104 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5

104 global ratings

5 star		84%
4 star		6%
3 star		4%
2 star		2%
1 star		3%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Fantastic book!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 27, 2022

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This book not only shows many of the wonderful paintings but also gives a great deal of background of Sir Winston and his love of painting. I learned so much and will treasure this book.

2 people found this helpful

I Churchill ,I Combat, I Conquer , I Create

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 22, 2009

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Churchill was a brave soldier, shrewd politician, great fighter, winner of Nobel Prize for Literature and a fine painter.

People might think of Churchill as a famous political leader, but what he will be remembered centuries later, might be more on his writings about the history of English civilization and British people.

Yet what he really wanted to be admired and to pursue, in his first million years up in the heaven, is to study secrets of painting and to enjoy the creation of artworks from his own hands than from commanding troops and teaming with self-interests-driven-allies at a special period to fight and to destroy buildings, cities, enemies and lives.

In this book, you will be surprised to see, how dedicated, if not how good that Churchill was to painting, and his quick sketches, such as a pig is even better than his days long oil paintings ! Maybe his rhetorical words also a sort of simple and forceful painting sketches, that he had practiced in his leisure time and during forced to retirement periods.

Wish you enjoy another dimension of this extraodinary man in addition to his sword, his pen, his rhetorical lectures and his unforgivable writings. Sir Winston Churchill: His Life and His Paintings

10 people found this helpful

An artistic biography

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 17, 2010

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David Coombs has produced a remarkable biography of Winston Churchill and his paintings. He has thoroughly researched the works of Churchill, his life and times, and has combined them in this wonderful book.

While Churchill was a pretty good painter with moments of greatness, the truly interesting aspect of this biography was how the author combined a timeline of what was happening in Churchill's personal and political career with his development as a painter. He went several years where he was unable to produce anything at all, being consumed with War War II and politics. Other years, he was quite prolific.

Coombs has included the complete essays by Churchill on Painting as a Passtime and Hobbies. The full-color plates are very well-done as are the many photos of Churchill painting scattered throughout the book.

If you're looking for a special book for your favorite hobbiest painter, for a Churchill lover, or just a history buff, this would be a good present or addition to your personal library.

16 people found this helpful

Sir Winston painting

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 28, 2021

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Beautiful book about a incredible man, great history!

Why hobbies are so important to a long and rewarding life

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 11, 2021

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The prose of Winston Churchill should be enjoyed by everyone

Quite impressive

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 27, 2020

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Like WC's poignant quotes, I like his artwork. Everyone benefits from a much loved hobby - it's an escape. Churchill found that painting helped him through "the black dog" (depression). Love the book.

One person found this helpful

A most pleasant surprise!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 7, 2013

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Most people aren't aware that Churchill was a talented, gallery-quality artist who easily could've made a living as a painter or water colorist. Considering he didn't take up this "hobby" until middle age, I was totally amazed by his output. Where did the man find the time to paint between his official duties and writing dozens of books! "His Life and Paintings" only disappoints in that some of his paintings are only shown snapshot-size or in black and white. Other than that, it's a great addition to any Churchill collection.

17 people found this helpful

Ivy H. Frierson

Sir Winston Churchill: His Life and His Paintings

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 26, 2013

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Winston Churchill's life and his paintings are food for the mind & soul and a feast for the eyes!
Having been to London where we visited Churchill's war rooms, then on to Chartwell, where we viewed his paintings as well as getting a tour of the estate where he spent so much of his time, this book gave me a greater appreciation for his life, his work and the wit & wisdom that he revealed throughout. Beautiful book!

4 people found this helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Thelma

Winston Churchill, hero, gentleman and sensitive artist.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 17, 2015

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This is a beautiful book that will be cherished by me. All of this great man's paintings are together in its pages with information about where and when they were painted. Anyone buying this lovely book will have an artist's view of his life as he travelled then on returning home enjoyed his beautiful house, studio and gardens.
Having visited Blenheim twice then his much loved home, Chartwell earlier this year I'm totally in awe of his many achievements but not least his resilience in fighting the many obstacles he encountered.
Two aspects of his character shone out to me.
The first was after his disastrous decison re Gallipoli he joined the services himself - what a completely honourable thing to do?!
The second aspect of his character that endeared him to me was on my comment to the guide in Chartwell's library, Churchill's favourite room, 'Of course those 2 soft toys on the shelf have been left here to be collected by their owners when they realise they've dropped them?' 'Absolutely not', the gentleman retorted. 'Oh, no! two little boys saved up their pennies to buy them for Sir Winston as a 'thank you' for saving us in the war that had just finished'. In the room next door was a long list of honours and countless valuable gifts he'd received from the great and the good but these two gifts were SO cherished they are in Churchill's favourite room. What a true hero and gentleman he was and so deserving of the state funeral he was given. R.I.P. and 'thank you'.
David Coombs has done a sterling job.

6 people found this helpful

Mr. Gareth Morris

Well illustrated, mostly in colour

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on December 29, 2021

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A large selection of his paintings, covering various periods of his life, landscapes from this country and abroad.
My son asked for a book about Churchill’s paintings so I bought him this one and he’s happy with it.

Stuart R. Price

Beautiful book, lovingly and expertly compiled

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on December 8, 2017

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Beautiful book, lovingly and expertly compiled. I felt very touched by the attention that has gone into this definitive book of Winson Churchill's paintings. This is THE one to buy.

One person found this helpful

Anna Parkinson

... of a very talented and famous man - highly recommended - and much appreciated that his paintings can be ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on March 6, 2015

Verified Purchase

Facinating book which gives one an insight of a very talented and famous man - highly recommended - and much appreciated that his paintings can be sen by so many like myself.

3 people found this helpful

dmmercer

A beautifully illustrated book and very interesting for the artists and ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on July 13, 2015

Verified Purchase

A beautifully illustrated book and very interesting for the artists and for the history buffs. Also looks great on the coffee table

One person found this helpful

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