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A new statue of Winston Churchill that ‘honours his passion for the arts’ has been unveiled to mark the 150th anniversary of his birth.
The bronze monument, created by award-winning sculptor Paul Rafferty, will feature as a permanent display in the grounds of Blenheim Palace, Churchill’s birthplace and ancestral home.
The unveiling was one of a host of events held by the palace in the autumn of last year to mark the wartime prime minister’s life and legacy.
As well as being his birthplace, the palace – a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Oxfordshire – was the location of his engagement to Clementine Hozier, his wife of 57 years, in 1908.
Set in more than 2,000 acres of landscaped parks and gardens, Blenheim has been home to the Dukes of Marlborough since 1705. Following his death 60 years ago in January 1965, Churchill was buried in a nearby cemetery in Bladon.
The monument depicts Churchill with an easel working on a painting of the palace, and surrounded by paint brushes, Pol Roger champagne, and a cigar. At the unveiling in November last year, Rafferty said he ‘aimed to capture a vivid moment of his life at Blenheim, a place he loved deeply’.
The new artwork was received warmly by its subject’s family. Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill said: ‘This extraordinary sculpture is a fitting tribute to Winston’s artistic talents, as well as his love for Blenheim Palace.’
‘We are delighted to welcome this unique piece and to commemorate 150 years since his birth,’ she added.
