Fake or Fortune? Season 4 Episode 4 Munnings and Churchill

Fake or Fortune? is a British television series that first aired on BBC One in 2011. The show is focused on the art world and the authentication of artworks. In each episode, art dealer Philip Mould and journalist Fiona Bruce investigate the authenticity of a painting, sculpture or other artwork using a team of experts who analyze the piece's history, provenance, and scientific analysis. In season 4, episode 4, entitled "Munnings and Churchill", the team takes on the challenge of exploring two of the most famous figures in British history - Winston Churchill and Sir Alfred Munnings.

The episode starts off with an intriguing painting of Churchill being discovered in a small auction house in the West of England. Painted in 1919 by Sir Alfred Munnings, the painting is of Churchill, who was a young Cabinet Minister at the time. Munnings was a well-known British painter, he even went on to serve as President of the Royal Academy. During World War I, Munnings painted horses, which is where he developed his technique. Churchill was also an artist, but it is said that he only picked up painting after the war. The painting is a unique work because of the combination of these two remarkable figures. The question that arises is whether the painting is authentic or not.

The team starts their investigation as they always do by looking at the painting's provenance, which is the history of ownership. Tracking down the owners of the painting, they come to know that the painting had never been out of the country, and it had always been in private ownership. The experts also reveal that the Churchill family has no record of the painting and that there are no letters or documents that mention the painting. This is where the investigation gets complicated and more interesting.

The team then looks into the painting techniques used to create the artwork. They take the painting to a laboratory where they use scientific analysis to verify its age, and paint quality, which can help in determining if it is a fake. The analysis revealed that the painting was done in oil and that the painting technique and brushstroke matched that of Munnings, indicating that it was a genuine work.

The team then continues their investigation by trying to find any kind of connection between Churchill and Munnings. They discover that Churchill had known Munnings since his Parliamentary days and that both men shared a love of horses. They also find out that Munnings had painted another Churchill portrait during the same time period. This portrait was publicly shown at an exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts in 1919.

The final and most exciting chapter of the investigation takes the team to the United States, where the painting is said to have been auctioned off in the 1950s. This is when the investigation gets heated up, as the team discovers that there is a huge possibility that the painting may have been stolen during the 1950s and then later resurfaced. In order to identify the owner of the painting during that period, the team must go through old auction catalogs, which turn out to be very hard to find.

All in all, the episode is an exciting and suspenseful ride, as the team is tasked with exploring the authenticity of one of the most fascinating combinations of personalities in British history. The team's in-depth investigation thoroughly explores the painting's provenance, artistic techniques and historical connections. The show's format brings an entertaining twist to the art world and showcases the importance of authenticating works of art. People who are interested in art and its history would definitely find this show worth watching.