Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is marking the 100th anniversary of its flagship model, the Phantom, by reflecting on the car’s extensive and unique connection to the world of art.
Over the past century, Phantom has not only been a preferred vehicle for artists but has also been recognised as a work of art in its own right.
Since its inception, Phantom has attracted some of the most significant creative figures of the 20th and 21st centuries. Salvador Dalí, Andy Warhol, Henri Matisse, and Cecil Beaton are among those who travelled in Rolls-Royces. Dame Laura Knight even used one as a mobile studio. Collectors such as Peggy Guggenheim and Nelson Rockefeller were also known to be admirers.
One of the most famous artistic encounters involving Phantom took place in 1955 when Salvador Dalí filled a black and yellow Phantom with 500 kilograms of cauliflowers before delivering a lecture at Paris-Sorbonne University. The scene of vegetables cascading from the car outside the venue became a legendary moment in modern art history. Rolls-Royce has now commissioned a contemporary artwork inspired by this surreal event.
Dalí’s association with Phantom also included a 1934 illustration for Les Chants de Maldoror, where he depicted a Phantom frozen in a desolate landscape, blending elegance with eerie surrealism.
The story continued in 1972 when Andy Warhol purchased a 1937 Phantom, converted into a shooting brake. This purchase was reportedly impulsive, occurring during a visit to an antique shop in Zurich. Warhol owned the car until 1978, when it was passed on to his manager, Fred Hughes. In homage to Warhol and the Pop Art movement, Rolls-Royce has commissioned a new artwork reimagining Phantom in this bold and iconic style.
The artistic connection began even before Phantom’s launch, with the creation of the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot in 1911 by artist Charles Sykes. Inspired by classical sculpture and the driving experience, this figure became one of the most recognisable symbols in the automotive world.
Now entering its second century, Phantom remains deeply embedded in the creative landscape. Rolls-Royce describes it as both a canvas and a catalyst for artistic expression.
Phantom’s legacy stands as a testament to the enduring relationship between automotive craftsmanship and the arts.
