A century-old silent witness to art; Phantom

Since its inception, Rolls-Royce has been associated with leading figures in contemporary art. Major artists such as Salvador Dalí, Andy Warhol, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Christian Bébé' Bérard, and Cecil Beaton have traveled in a Rolls-Royce. Dame Laura Knight, the first female artist elected a full member of the Royal Academy of Arts, used the Rolls-Royce as a traveling studio, painting from the vehicle at racecourses such as Epsom and Ascot. It has also attracted the attention of some of the world's most important collectors, including Jacquelyn de Rothschild, Peggy Guggenheim, and Nelson Rockefeller.

But the model that has forged the strongest connection with the art world is the Phantom, which represents the pinnacle of the brand and is celebrating its centennial. Over eight generations and 100 years, the Phantom has been coveted by some of modern history's most renowned creative figures. It has been exhibited as a work of art in its own right in galleries worldwide, from prestigious corporate collections like the Saatchi Gallery in London and the Smithsonian Design Museum in New York to numerous independent galleries and exhibition spaces.

This enduring connection between Phantom and the art world reflects a long tradition of creative interaction. Over the years, Phantom has attracted some of the most original artistic imaginations, inspiring works that are both unexpected and unforgettable.

Salvador Dalí, The Cauliflower and the extraordinary story of The Frozen Phantom

A man bearing the title of Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto Dalí i Domènech, Marquis de Púbol, is naturally always the center of attention. Dalí, who shook the art world with his nightmarish landscapes, fanciful creatures, tantalizing foods, and melting clocks, longed to bring his unconventional style to a wider audience.

In the winter of 1955, he was invited to give a lecture at the Sorbonne University in Paris. Seeing an opportunity to create an unforgettable moment in the history of modern art, Dalí borrowed a friend's black and yellow Phantom and filled it with 500 kg of cauliflower. After a memorable tour of the cauliflower-filled vehicle through the streets of Paris, Dalí stopped in front of the university and opened the Phantom's doors, letting the cauliflowers spill onto the cold floor. While it's unclear how many in the audience of 2,000 remembered his presentation on "Phenomenological Aspects of the Paranoid Critical Method," his arrival before the lecture became legendary.

To honour the defiantly surreal performance, Rolls-Royce commissioned a contemporary artist to create an original artwork inspired by this majestic, eccentric and cauliflower-filled Phantom moment.

This unforgettable moment wasn't the only time Salvador Dalí immortalized the Phantom. A surreal interpretation of the Phantom appeared in a piece he created for the picture book "Les Chants de Maldoror" (The Songs of Maldoror), published in 1934. In this striking composition, Dalí depicts the car seemingly abandoned in a desolate, icy landscape. This scene, which combines elegance and unease in the same frame, further demonstrates Dalí's unique ability to blend luxury with absurd elements.

The story of Andy Warhol and More than 15 Minutes of Fame

Dalí spent every fall and winter in New York, staying in a suite at the St. Regis Hotel in Manhattan. It was there, in 1965, that he met a young visual artist named Andy Warhol. This turning point in art history was captured by British photographer David McCabe, who described the moment: “ Dalí turned the whole thing into a theater. Andy was stunned.”

Warhol, considered by many to be Dalí's natural successor, became one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Unlike his mentor, Dalí, Warhol actually owned a 1938 Phantom, converted to a shooting brake style around 1947. In 1972, Warhol and his Swiss agent, Bruno Bischofberger, were passing by an antiques shop in Zurich when they saw the art vehicle for sale. Warhol immediately purchased it and shipped it to New York. The vehicle remained Warhol's property until 1978, when he sold it to his friend and manager, Fred Hughes.

In a tribute to the enduring influence of Pop Art, Rolls-Royce commissioned a contemporary artist to reinterpret this bold style that has moved from Studio 54 into the cultural mainstream.

A Work of Art for Every Phantom : Charles Sykes and the Spirit of Ecstasy

Dating back to Rolls-Royce's earliest times, this tradition of artistic collaboration began with one artist masterfully sculpting the brand's most enduring symbol and has continued with the world's most famous and striking creators.

Since 1911, Rolls-Royce vehicles have been crowned with the world's most recognizable and meaningful statuette, the Spirit of Ecstasy. This cornerstone of the brand's iconography was created by the talented and prolific artist Charles Robinson Sykes.

After winning a scholarship to the Royal College of Art in London, Charles Sykes was hired in 1902 by John Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 2nd Baron Beaulieu, to illustrate The Car Illustrated magazine. Montagu then commissioned Sykes to create a series of paintings depicting Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost models. These impressive works caught the attention of Claude “CJ” Johnson, Rolls-Royce’s first managing director. For the marque’s 1910-11 catalogue, Johnson commissioned Sykes to produce six oil paintings depicting Rolls-Royce cars arriving at locations such as opera houses, golf courses, and salmon riverbanks.

CJ soon decided that Rolls-Royce needed a powerful symbol and commissioned a sculpture inspired by the impressive Greek statue he had admired in the Louvre Museum in Paris, the "Winged Victory of Samothrace." Sykes drew inspiration from the statue's majesty, but created a more elegant and ethereal figure that would better convey the feeling of traveling in a Rolls-Royce.

CJ was so impressed with this newly released iconic design that he commissioned Sykes as the sole artist and supplier of the statuette in 1911. From that date on, Sykes personally oversaw the production team, and his daughter, Jo, succeeded him in 1928. Until Rolls-Royce took production in-house in 1948, every Phantom owner may have unknowingly owned a Sykes original.

Although he is best remembered today for his work with Rolls-Royce, Sykes had a successful career as an artist. His work is still highly regarded and is held in prestigious institutional collections such as the British Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.

Phantom : a canvas and a catalyst

As Phantom enters its second century, its artistic legacy feels more meaningful and significant than ever. For creators and collectors, Phantom continues to offer a personal, timeless, and meaningful form of expression, as well as inspiring visionary thought.