3. Jean Cocteau, Church of Notre Dame de France, Soho

Tucked innocuously between the bustling streets of Leicester square and Chinatown, this French church harbours within its walls a set of murals painted by poet, playwright, novelist, designer, film maker, critic and visual artist Jean Cocteau.

Commissioned by the French Embassy’s cultural attaché, witnesses described how over a period of eight days in November 1959, the artist would arrive at 10 o’clock each morning and begin by lighting a candle before the statue of our lady of Lourdes before starting work on his colourful depictions of the Annunciation, the Crucifixion and the Assumption.

One of the most influential artistic figures of the 20th century, Cocteau was an open homosexual throughout his life and his lovers were often his muses, most notably Jean Marais who he cast in a number of his films. These murals are the only public works by Cocteau in the UK.

Print is 20 x 25cm, unframed, signed, numbered and comes with the above accompanying text.