Brock Churchill Hazard

O ne of the most exciting aspects of being an art dealer is the opportunity to discover works that have remained sequestered with the descendants of artists and collectors. Last fall, I received a letter from the great- grandson of one such collector, who said he and his brother owned a group of works by William Worcester Churchill (1858–1926) and Arthur Merton Hazard (1872–1930). Their great-grandfather, Dr. James R. Taylor, was a prominent Boston physician, as well as a collector with a keen eye for quality. The note originated in Philadelphia, but the paintings were in Connecticut with the brothers’ mother. The family was exploring the notion of selling, and asked if I would come for a visit. On my next trip to New York, I drove to a scenic town in coastal Connecticut, through a small neighborhood and into the driveway of an unassuming house. There I found a collection of some of the finest examples by Churchill and Hazard that I have ever seen. The works were in keeping with the traditions espoused and practiced by the first generation of Boston School artists. After some discussions, the paintings were brought back to Boston for sale, the obvious venue for the works. The paintings have been conserved and framed, and are now ready to reside with the current generation of Boston School collectors. My thanks to the Mahoney family for entrusting these works to me to sell, and to Emily Weintraub for researching, writing and weaving an essay that gives us a greater understanding of these exceptional works created by Churchill and Hazard. And, most importantly, we must give credit to Dr. and Mrs. Taylor for the legacy they left to their family. Mark L. Brock Concord, Massachusetts COVER : Arthur M. Hazard (1872–1930) Woman Reading in an Interior, n.d. Oil on canvas, 30 x 25 inches Signed lower left