Large Color Portrait of Winston Churchill in His Wartime RAF Uniform, Signed

The only signed color image of Churchill we have ever carried

In the frightening days of 1940, when great nations collapsed before Germany, only Prime Minister Churchill and valiant Britain stood between the world and a new Dark Age. Churchill swore that the English would defend London house to house and see it razed to the ground rather than capitulate and lose the institutions of freedom that had been gained at such cost over a thousand years. That determination is what it took to defeat Hitler, and led to the victory in 1945.

Sharing the glory with Churchill were his young, courageous RAF pilots, whose mastery of the air prevented the Germans from invading the British Isles. Churchill immortalized these heroes during the Battle of Britain, saying “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” Churchill was awarded an honorary RAF Air Marshall’s uniform, one he wore with particular pride.

When artist Douglas Chandor was commissioned to paint a now-famous portrait of Churchill, he chose to picture his subject in his RAF uniform. This is an 8 by 10 inch full color reproduction of the painting of Churchill by Chandor, showing him in his RAF Air Marshall’s uniform, seated and holding his glasses in his hand with one of his cigars in an ashtray beside him, mounted (and boldly signed on the mount), and framed.  The original painting was executed by Chandor in 1946, making that date probable for this picture as well considering Churchill’s signing habits. This is the only signed version of this renowned portrait we have seen. Included is a copy of an article about the painting which mentions all the medals he won, including those whose ribbons are shown on his uniform. Churchill was an honorary American citizen and Chandor was a naturalized American, so it is fitting that the work has ended up in Washington, D.C. at the National Portrait Gallery.