Angelina Jolie is Selling Her Churchill Painting

The news from the art world last told of a Morocco landscape painting by Sir Winston Churchill to be offered for the first time at auction on 1 March at Christie’s. However, it turns out this isn't the only Moroccan work by the former British Prime Minister to be included in the sale.

This second work, Tower of the Koutoubia Mosque, was completed in January 1943, when Churchill and American President Franklin D. Roosevelt met with their respective chiefs of staff in Casablanca to discuss the success of the North African campaign and further joint action in the European continent.

Following the conference, Roosevelt wanted to return to the United States as soon as possible, but Churchill, who had already visited Morocco several times, had other plans. “You cannot come all the way to North Africa without seeing Marrakesh… I must be with you when you see the sun set on the Atlas Mountains,” he told Roosevelt, following him on the five-hour drive from Casablanca to Marrakesh. Once there, from their accommodation outside of Marrakesh, they enjoyed the view over the city, illuminated by a warm light, with the Atlas Mountains as an imposing backdrop.

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After Roosevelt left, Churchill stayed on another day to capture the panorama and atmosphere they had enjoyed together in a painting. It was the only painting that the enthusiastic and talented amateur painter Churchill painted during World War II.

Churchill gave the work to Roosevelt as a souvenir. After Roosevelt’s death in April 1945, it passed into the possession of his son Elliot Roosevelt, who sold it in 1950. After another stop, in 2011 the painting became part of the art collection of Hollywood actress and UN ambassador Angelina Jolie. Now, ten years later, Jolie is ready to part with this unique painting.

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Tower of the Koutoubia Mosque is listed in the auction catalogue with an estimated price of £1.5-2.5 million. It has a good chance of surpassing the current auction record for a work by Winston Churchill: £1.76 million, paid at Sotheby's for The Goldfish Pool at Chartwell in 2014 – 341% above its estimate.

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In addition to the two Moroccan works, a London view, St Paul's Churchyard, which Churchill painted in 1927, is also being offered in the sale with an estimate of £200,000-300,000. In that same year, 1927, Churchill donated it for a charity auction under the auspices of Queen Mary, where it was bought by the father of the current owner.

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