Magnificent World War II-dated color 19 x 24.25 print of an A. Egerton Cooper painting entitled ‘Profile for Victory,’ which depicts Prime Minister Winston Churchill seated in profile, a lit cigar in his hand and a folded newspaper on his lap, signed below in bold fountain pen, “Winston S. Churchill.” The print is also signed by its artist, “A. Egerton Cooper, 43.” Impressively gilt-framed to an overall size of 23 x 28. In fine condition.
One evening in 1942, Cooper was at the Arts Club in Dover Street playing billiards with a group of members. Among these was the distinguished sculptor William Reid Dick, King’s Sculptor in Ordinary for Scotland and President of the Royal Society of British Artists. In the midst of shooting billiards, Dick related that he had been commissioned to sculpt a bronze of Churchill and that he would soon be going to Downing Street to take preliminary measurements. Cooper became excited at this and, eager for a chance to see the great man firsthand, asked if he might accompany Dick in the capacity of an assistant. Dick agreed, the arrangements were made, and on the assigned day the two departed for Number Ten.
The meeting came off without a hitch. Churchill sat while Dick took his measurements and read them off to Cooper, who quickly recorded them as he quickly sketched Churchill’s profile. After finishing his sketch, Cooper wrote below it, ‘Profile For Victory.’ Then, taking a calculated risk, he showed it to Churchill. After some small talk and a reasonable interval, he asked if he might paint the PM’s portrait in that pose. The resulting portrait, considered by Cooper to be his finest work, was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1943 and later published as a morale-boosting poster for the general public.
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