Picture Archive & Historical Portraits
Skip to main content
  • Menu
  • Artists
  • Artworks
  • Image Licensing
  • Philip Mould Gallery
  • Contact
Menu
Alfred Egerton Cooper

Alfred Egerton Cooper

Alfred Egerton Cooper, Life Sketch for the Victory Portrait of Sir Winston Churchill, 1942

Alfred Egerton Cooper

Life Sketch for the Victory Portrait of Sir Winston Churchill, 1942
Pastel on paper
19 x 15 in. (48.3 x 38.1 cm)
Philip Mould & Co.
License Image
%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EAlfred%20Egerton%20Cooper%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3ELife%20Sketch%20for%20the%20Victory%20Portrait%20of%20Sir%20Winston%20Churchill%3C/span%3E%2C%20%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E1942%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3EPastel%20on%20paper%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3E19%20x%2015%20in.%20%2848.3%20x%2038.1%20cm%29%3C/div%3E
To view all current artworks for sale visit philipmould.com  Although this pastel sketch of Sir Winston Churchill is preparatory to a very public image -the Profile for Victory which...
Read more
To view all current artworks for sale visit philipmould.com

Although this pastel sketch of Sir Winston Churchill is preparatory to a very public image -the Profile for Victory which was employed as a wartime propaganda poster- it is a remarkably private glimpse of the Prime Minister. The subsequent oil paintings are -appropriately to their function- informed by Churchill's celebrated, public characteristics and embody the famous ''bulldog'' spirit of courage and defiance in the face of a powerful enemy. The present pastel, by contrast, may be a more realistic impression of the sitter's inner humanity.

Unusually, the portrait was not the result of an official commission. Cooper first sketched the Prime Minister in secret, having pretended to be an assistant to the King's sculptor who was then engaged in Churchill's portrait. The subterfuge gained him entry to the Presence, and his talent assuaged Churchill's anger at the deception, and ensured the completion of what was to become one of the most striking propaganda images of the war.
Close full details

Provenance

Private Collection

Share
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • Email
Previous
|
Next
1 
of  2
PHILIP MOULD & COMPANY
CONTACT

+44 (0)20 7499 6818
art@philipmould.com

18-19 Pall Mall
London SW1Y 5LU

philipmould.com

FOLLOW US

Instagram

Facebook

TikTok

YouTube

Artsy

 

Join the mailing list
Manage cookies
Copyright © 2025 Picture Archive & Historical Portraits
Site by Artlogic

This website uses cookies
This site uses cookies to help make it more useful to you. Please contact us to find out more about our Cookie Policy.

Manage cookies
Accept

Cookie preferences

Check the boxes for the cookie categories you allow our site to use

Cookie options
Required for the website to function and cannot be disabled.
Improve your experience on the website by storing choices you make about how it should function.
Allow us to collect anonymous usage data in order to improve the experience on our website.
Allow us to identify our visitors so that we can offer personalised, targeted marketing.
Save preferences
Close

Be the first to hear about our available artworks

Interests *

Sign Up

* denotes required fields

We will process the personal data you have supplied in accordance with our privacy policy (available on request). You can unsubscribe or change your preferences at any time by clicking the link in our emails.