November 10, 2015

Finest Hour 169, Summer 2015

Page 26


Winston Churchil Rotterdam VerbonThe cover image of Sir Winston Churchill was created from life in 1953 at the behest of the city of Rotterdam. Sculpted by Willem Verbon (1921– 2003), the impressive, finished bronze (above) stands in the Dutch city to this day.

The terracotta maquette for the sculpture seen here (at right) remained in the artist’s studio until his death. Recently it was sold by Philip Mould OBE, an expert in British portraiture. The buyer then donated the bust to Harrow, Churchill’s old school.

Churchill’s importance to Rotterdam was confirmed in 1946 when he was granted honorary membership of the town council, which this bust was created to commemorate. Already held in high regard as a civic sculptor, Verbon received the commission.

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Verbon sought to remain loyal to the truth by portraying his subjects, as he put it, “neither prettier nor uglier” than the reality. It was an approach that suited the subject: Verbon’s Churchill is dressed as he was for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. His uniform of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports is just visible beneath the mantle of a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of Garter with the gold collar of the Order draped across his shoulders.

Verbon Churchill 3222 em copyAccording to the artist’s biographer, Verbon imitated Churchill’s gruff voice magnificently recalling the Prime Minister saying “I think I belong to a kennel now, but I must say, a very distinguished kennel” when receiving his honorary medal of membership from the Rotterdam council. In the letters exchanged between Churchill’s secretary Anthony Montague Browne and the Dutch Embassy, Churchill compliments the artist on “the remarkable result” achieved for which he was “indeed obliged for the trouble” he had taken.

Verbon throughout was punctilious about his artistic requirements, using the services of those close to Churchill to assist with the logistics. At his request, he was given special access to the chamber of the House of Commons in order to observe and sketch Churchill first hand.

Following a viewing of the bust at Downing Street, Churchill sent Verbon a signed copy of his book Painting as a Pastime, believing it to be a more meaningful gift for a friend and fellow artist st than his customary signed photograph.

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