In a certificate of authenticity and valuation by David McFall, dated 1 August 1975, the artist states that the sittings took place at La Villa Pausa, Rocquebrune, Cap Martin, France where Sir Winston was the guest of honour of Emery Reeves and his wife, Wendy. Churchill sat for five sittings over a period of a few weeks and the artist considers this to be the last authentic portrait of the great statesman.

David McFall had been commissioned by Churchill's constituency at that time to produce a fully clothed sculpture which was subsequentely sited at the Town Hall. McFall sketched the artist in the nude as he walked from bedroom to bathroom and later produced a nude study. The effect of the sitter's stroke can be clearly seen in the left hand side of the mouth and it made Churchill realise for the first time that he had
become an old man