An intimate exhibition in Cannes unveils Winston Churchill’s artistic journey along the Côte d’Azur, exploring his passion for painting as both an escape and a creative pursuit.

In the early decades of the 20th century, Winston Churchill, then a rising political superstar, looked for a sanctuary far from the halls of power in London… a place where he could set aside the weight of political responsibility and embrace tranquility and simple joys. He found it in sun-kissed Cannes. Here, he could trade speeches for paintbrushes and war cabinets for easels, creating a significant body of work inspired by the region. Of the 600 paintings attributed to Churchill, over 150 were conceived in Provence, capturing the beauty of the landscapes that offered him peace and inspiration.

This lesser-known side of Churchill’s life is now showcased in a flash exhibition in Cannes titled “Churchill à Cannes: peinture et politique“ (“Churchill in Cannes: Painting and Politics”), running through November 7 only. Photographs, paintings, and documentary screenings retrace his frequent visits to the French Riviera as a retreat and highlight his deep affection for painting.

An Artist Amidst the Olive Trees

The French Riviera had already awakened Winston Churchill’s fascination on a visit to St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat in 1921. His coup de cœur for the region was confirmed on his return visit for the Cannes Peace Conference in January 1922, where he, then Secretary of State for the Colonies, and British Prime Minister David Lloyd George met up to seek economic stabilization for a fragile post-war Europe.

Charmed by the Provençal landscape and the sparkling blue of the Mediterranean Sea, he returned here later in the same year to establish a temporary studio at the Villa Rêve d’or at La Croix-des-Gardes, just outside Cannes, for six months. Churchill had considerable talent and was anything but a novice to painting. He dedicated himself to the art with fervour, quickly falling into a routine of painting outdoors. Locals frequently saw him out and about with his travel easel, palettes, cigars, and a parasol. He favoured views that combined rocky coastlines with shimmering blue seas, the unique Mediterranean light casting its glow over his canvases. Painting offered him “a joy of vision, a pleasure of color, and an absorption into creativity that revived [his] inner tranquility.”

Churchill and the Riviera Elite

While Churchill often painted in solitude, his time in Cannes was also marked by encounters with other renowned artists and figures from the British and international expatriate community. His artistic neighbors, which included luminaries like American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald and Spanish painter Pablo Picasso, admired the statesman’s passion for creative art. These social circles enriched his connection to the South of France, as did his interactions with the affluent residents who lent him their villas and gardens as subjects and sanctuaries.

In 1937, as he was seen painting in Cannes’ port, local photographers captured him deep in concentration. One iconic photograph, which features in the exhibition, shows Churchill at his easel, attired in a protective overcoat, and a fedora shading his face from the Mediterranean sun. His brushstrokes mirror the vigor and confidence with which he approached political challenges, yet they reveal an entirely different aspect of the man, undistracted and at peace.

A Balm for Political Fatigue

Churchill once described painting as a “marvelous new world” where he found refuge during times of personal and political strain. Throughout the interwar years, particularly during his tenure as Minister of the Colonies, when international tensions ran high, his art gave him both an outlet and a method of disconnecting from the daily grind, allowing him to recharge before returning to the political fray.

Not merely a hobby, painting became for Churchill a parallel form of expression. As he mixed his colors and selected his subjects, he was pursuing not only visual beauty but also clarity and reflection.

Winston Churchill v/ Sir Winston Churchill

The Cannes exhibition offers attendees more than just a look at Churchill’s canvases, it illuminates the balance he struck between his political responsibilities and personal needs. Film screenings add another dimension to the exhibition: on November 2, “Darkest Hour“  will be shown, featuring the Oscar-winning portrayal of Churchill by actor Gary Oldman. Then, on November 6, “Churchill: A Giant of the Century,”  a French documentary, will provide a deeper dive into Churchill’s life and legacy.

The Churchill à Cannes exhibition offers more than a glimpse into a famed statesman’s pastime; it reveals Churchill’s drive to see the world from multiple perspectives. Whether wielding a paintbrush or leading a nation, he approached each role with unyielding dedication and intensity. In this sense, the exhibition doesn’t just depict Churchill as a painter but celebrates his commitment to life’s beauty, complexity, and resilience. Through each canvas, we see Churchill not merely escaping his world but expanding it—finding in Provence not only the colors of peace but the textures of strength and renewal.

Details

Churchill à Cannes: peinture et politique
Through 7 November 2024

Espace Miramar
35 rue Pasteur
06400 Cannes

Phone +33 (0)4 93 43 86 26

Free admission

For additional reading: Winston Churchill: Painting on the French Riviera by Paul Rafferty (2020) or watch the film on the same subject

All photos, courtesy of Ville de Cannes, except book cover (public domain)
Lead photo from documentary “Winston Churchill: Un Géant dans le Siècle” with kind permission from Ville de Cannes/Association Cannes Cinéma