Tower of the Koutoubia Mosque
is a rare canvas.
Probably the only one painted by Winston Churchill during World War II, probably on his return from the Casablanca Conference.
A piece of political and Hollywood history, the painting is being auctioned at Christie's by American actress Angelina Jolie.
The most important work of the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, its price could set a new record for Churchill, already estimated at between 1.5 million and 2.5 million pounds (1.7 million and 2.8 million d 'euros).
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In Casablanca, Winston Churchill and the 32nd President of the United States Franklin Roosevelt meet to plan the fight against Nazi Germany.
At the end of the meeting, the British warlord takes the American leader to the city of Marrakech to enjoy its beauty.
“
Roosevelt was blown away,
” Nick Orchard, head of Christie's modern British art department, told The Associated Press.
"
Churchill held the US president in high esteem
"
,
continues the specialist.
Thus, he decides to engrave with a brush the image of the main mosque built in the 12th century, sublimated that day for the sunset.
On the painting, the Atlas Mountains rise behind it, while religious enter the building.
To seal their friendship, he gives the canvas to the American chef as a souvenir of the trip.
One of the most important works
Before landing at Christie's nearly 80 years later, the painting was first sold by Roosevelt's son upon the latter's death in 1945. It was not until 2011 that Angelina Jolie and her elder husband Brad Pitt, charmed by the Moroccan landscapes, decided to buy the work.
Five years later, the relationship of the two lovers is nailed by a divorce and begins a legal battle for the sharing of their vast collection of art.
Divorced in 2019,
Tower of the Koutoubia Mosque
returns to Angelina Jolie
.
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Released by the Jolie Family Collection, the painting will be available at Christie's as part of the March 1 Modern British Art auction in London.
For the representative of the house, it could set a new record for a work by the British chef.
“
The record auction price for Churchill is around £ 1.8million for a painting which in my opinion is not as important as this one,
” he said.