Churchill’s Last Painting Up for Sale

British statesman Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965) is remembered for his stirring feats of oratory that galvanized a nation during its darkest days at war. But a little-known painting, due to go on sale this week, sheds light on the quieter side of the man.

A keen artist, Churchill created around 544 paintings after he took up the hobby in the 20s and it became an integral part of his life, The Telegraph reported.

His final work, created shortly before he died in 1965, depicts his “most special place in the world”, the goldfish pond at his Chartwell home in Southeast England.

It was given to Sergeant Edmund Murray, his bodyguard, who served Sir Winston for the last 15 years of his life and helped the politician prepare his easel and brushes before he painted. It has remained with Sergeant Murray’s family that treasured the painting.

Now the work ‘The Goldfish Pool at Chartwell’, which has never been exhibited before, is to be sold at Sotheby’s auction in London and is expected to fetch up to £80,000 ($105,000).

“This was his last ever picture. But even more than that, it was the most special place in the world for Churchill, his home in Kent. It looks out on to the most incredible landscape,” said Frances Christie, the head of Sotheby’s modern and postwar British department.