Churchill's Lost Painting with Nazi Collaborator Provenance on View in London
A painting by Winston Churchill, which went missing during World War II and may have been taken by Nazis, is currently showcased at the Wallace Collection in London as part of the exhibition 'Winston Churchill: The Painter,' running until 29 November. The artwork, titled 'La Dragonnière, Cap Martin,' created in 1937, was originally given to René d'Estainville. Its fate became uncertain after the war, with theories suggesting it was lent out, sent to Monaco, or stolen. It eventually came into the possession of dealer Martin Fabiani, associated with Nazi art theft, and was displayed in a January 1945 exhibition where Picasso took note of it. After the war, it was confiscated, later owned by Edward Waterfield Hayward, and sold at Sotheby's. A private collector currently owns it. Wallace Collection director Xavier Bray describes it as 'the finest painting' in the exhibition.
Key facts
- Churchill's painting 'La Dragonnière, Cap Martin' is on view at the Wallace Collection in London until 29 November.
- The painting was lost during WWII and may have been looted or stolen during the Nazi occupation of France.
- Churchill gave the painting to René d'Estainville in 1937 after a visit to Cap Martin.
- The painting ended up with Parisian dealer Martin Fabiani, who collaborated with the Nazis.
- Picasso admired the painting in a 1945 exhibition at Fabiani's gallery, saying Churchill could have been a professional painter.
- Fabiani claimed a German officer wanted to exchange the Churchill for a Hitler painting.
- The painting was sold at Sotheby's in 1961, 1966, and 2018, with the 2018 price at £358,000.
- The painting was bought back by the D'Estainville family in 1961, so no restitution claim is possible.
- Wallace Collection director Xavier Bray calls it 'the finest painting' in the exhibition.
Entities
Artists
- Winston Churchill
- Pablo Picasso
- Adolf Hitler
- David Coombs
- Emily Esser
- Xavier Bray
- René d'Estainville
- Anne-Marie Oppenheim
- Edward Waterfield Hayward
- Lord Rothermere
Institutions
- Wallace Collection
- Sotheby's
- Lanson champagne company
- Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg
- Stage Door Canteen
- Daily Mail
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Paris
- France
- Cap Martin
- French Riviera
- Monaco
- Adelaide
- Australia