13. Sir Winston Churchill used art as an escape from the stresses of frontline politics – and, by all accounts, he was an accomplished painter.
Sir Winston Churchill is a true legend of British history. In fact, the wartime Prime Minister has even been named ‘the greatest Briton of all time’. However, Churchill is recognized almost solely for his political skills, above all for leading his country to victory in the Second World War. Almost nobody remembers him for his artistic skills – which is a shame since, according to most critics, he was actually quite an accomplished painter. Above all, he was known for his watercolors and landscapes. Despite his busy life in politics, he still found the time to produce some 500 paintings, many of which still sell for significant sums of money.
For all his skill, Churchill remained extremely modest about his art. He never pretended to be a true artist, instead proclaiming himself a hobbyist or amateur painter. For him, painting offered an escape from the cut-throat world of British inter-war politics and the chance to enjoy some fresh air away from London. However, for all his modesty, Churchill took his hobby extremely seriously indeed. He studied masters such as Manet, Monet and Matisse and even traveled to France to paint in the exact same locations – and be inspired by the same light – as his artistic heroes.