Bust of Winston Churchill

Three-piece suit, bowler hat, chubby figure, cigar in hand, and fingers spread in a V-shape for victory—this is how most of us imagine Winston Churchill. Well, except for František Bělský, the Czech sculptor behind this bronze bust. The artist depicts Churchill’s direct gaze and his hands firmly gripping the lapels of his jacket. Here, the man regarded as “the greatest Briton of all time” comes to life. His firm stance reflects the life of this aristocratic descendant who excelled in many fields. His talent for writing actually earned him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953. But he owes his two terms as Prime Minister to his contributions to the war effort, public speaking, and political career He served from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955. Spanning nearly 60 years his remarkable time in politics included his commitment to British resistance and European security in the face of Nazi Germany’s rise from the 1930s. He believed in De Gaulle’s Free France, called for support from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s United States, and continuously rallied the British people with passionate speeches, in which he declared: “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat… You ask, what is our policy? I can say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us”. Or another famous quote: “In war: resolution. In defeat: defiance. In victory: magnanimity. In peace: goodwill.” This phrase is written in Czech on the pedestal before you. Unveiled on July 14, 1992, in front of Czech soldiers who fought in Britain during World War II, the statue pays perfect tribute to this influential leader. And if you look to your right, you’ll see the British embassy nearby.