The worlds of Hollywood, politics and art have joined together in a very big way.
Christie’s auction house announced that Angelina Jolie is auctioning off a painting that Winston Churchill made for Franklin D. Roosevelt back in 1943.
The painting from the Jolie family collection, called “Tower of the Koutoubia Mosque,” was the only work of art that Churchill created during World War II and is estimated to fetch $2.1 million to $3.4 million next month, Christie’s said.
According to Christie’s, the British prime minister created the painting in Marrakech after the Casablanca Conference in January 1943. He had invited FDR to join him in Marrakech the day after the conference, wanting to “share the views of the city and the light at sunset which he so revered, with Roosevelt.”
The view impressed Roosevelt so much so that Churchill painted the scene to capture as a memento for the 32nd president, according to Christie’s.
“‘Tower of the Koutoubia Mosque’ is therefore arguably the best painting by Winston Churchill due to the significance of the subject matter to him, and the fact that it highlights the importance of the friendship between the two leaders,” the head of Christie’s Modern British Art department Nick Orchard said in a statement.
He continued, “The gifting of the work to Roosevelt underlines the fact that Churchill held the American President in such high regard and points to their joint efforts in guiding the Allied powers to the outcome of the Second World War.”
Therefore, the painting is expected to sell for more than any other work by Churchill, Christie’s said.