A painting by Winston Churchill, titled «Marrakech», shattered records at an international auction in Canada on November 19, fetching an impressive $1.5 million. This sale, which took place as part of an auction of the Hudson's Bay Company's art collection, exceeded initial estimates by more than threefold. Created around 1935, this painting is a testament to one of the most significant periods in Churchill's artistic journey. Measuring 24 by 20 inches, the artwork was initially valued between 400,000 and 600,000 Canadian dollars (approximately 2.6 to 3.9 million Moroccan dirhams). Churchill originally gifted the painting to his wife, Clementine, who later passed it on to the Hudson's Bay Company in 1956. The painting is well-documented in several art references, including David Coombs' book «Churchill: His Paintings», highlighting the former British Prime Minister's profound affection for Morocco and its captivating landscapes. During his frequent visits to the country, Churchill produced numerous artworks inspired by its scenery. This particular piece portrays three women near the ancient city walls of Marrakech, surrounded by palm trees, and was available for preview at the «Heffel» headquarters in Toronto before the auction. Churchill's Moroccan-themed paintings have been achieving record prices in recent years. Notably, his work «The Tower of the Koutoubia Mosque» (1943), once owned by actress Angelina Jolie, sold for $11.5 million at Christie's in London in 2021. Churchill painted this piece after the Anfa Conference in Casablanca and gifted it to U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt, capturing the iconic Koutoubia Mosque at sunset in a city he famously called «the most beautiful place on earth».
