December 4, 2022

The World of Churchill Collectables: Photo by Vivienne

By BRIAN KRAPF

This studio photograph of Prime Minister Churchill was obtained as shown here from the estate of a former member of the House of Lords. It is one of a formal portrait series taken in 1951 for the second premiership by the noted London photographer, Vivienne. Vivienne was born Florence Vivienne Mellish and had an early career as a professionally trained singer. She subsequently married photographer Ernest Entwistle. In 1934, she began learning the art of portrait photography by assisting her husband and son Antony Roger, also a photographer. Antony later changed his surname to Beachamp and, in 1949, married Churchill’s daughter, Sarah.

In 1939, under the trade name of Vivienne, Mrs. Entwistle established a posh photography studio in London, catering only to the wealthy and famous. Known for her expertise in lighting and posing her clients, she photographed five successive prime ministers and numerous other social and society personalities. She always insisted that the people she photographed come to her, rather than travel to off premises locations. It is no surprise that her 1956 autobiography is titled They Came to My Studio and includes copies of many formal studio portraits made during her career. Incidentally, she deviated from her set rule and spent a day during the second premiership at Chartwell, taking candid photographs of the Prime Minister and Mrs. Churchill.

Brian Krapf’s forthcoming book We Want Winston!—A Treasury of Memorabilia will be published next year.