Winston Churchill, 2001/2002

The Sable-Castelli Gallery Limited, Toronto Private Collection, Toronto

“Without tradition, art is a flock of sheep without a shepherd. Without innovation, it is a corpse.” - Winston Churchill Blending tradition and innovation in his practice, Tony Scherman received his MA from the Royal College of Art in London in 1974 and returned to Toronto in 1976. He spent most of his childhood and young life in Paris and Europe before his parents settled in London, England in 1955. His father was both a conductor and violinist who travelled throughout Europe. The tradition of portraiture is an important part of Scherman’s oeuvre, the artist painting various historical and fictional figures spanning the centuries. Tony Scherman’s portrait of Winston Churchill confronts the viewer with a look of disturbed calm. Employing his signature encaustic technique to create a textured dramatic surface, he has captured the former British Prime Minister’s imposing presence. Set against an expansive dark background, Churchill’s face confronts the viewer’s gaze in an unnerving way. Scherman’s innovative approach in this portrait of Churchill, as well as in the other portraits from this series continue the tradition of the portrait painter striving to capture the personality and soul of the sitter.