Nigel offers Donald the head of Churchill

Nigel offers Donald the head of Churchill
Oval office bound? Jacob Epstein’s bust of Churchill (1947)

A few days ago, President-elect Donald Trump enthusiastically took up the suggestion of Nigel Farage, the UK Independence Party acting leader, that Jacob Epstein’s bust of Churchill (1947) should be reinstated in the Oval Office, where it had pride of place under George W. Bush. The only problem is that it does not belong to the White House, but to the UK’s Government Art Collection. When The Art Newspaper asked whether it would be available for loan, a Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokeswoman responded: “Britain and the United States have an enduring and special relationship based on the values of freedom, democracy and enterprise, and we will build on these ties to ensure the security and prosperity of our nation in the years ahead. We consider requests for loans from the Government Art Collection on a case-by-case basis”. It sounds to us like a Trump request will be readily agreed to help cement relations, post-Brexit. In the meantime, the Epstein bust is currently on display in the residence of the British ambassador in Washington, DC.