Paul Maze (1887-1979) was a French painter who met Winston Churchill for the first time on the Western front. They both wore the Casque Adrián, the combat helmet worn by the French army. Churchill is said to have uttered

“You and I both have good taste”.

And from there, the pair formed a close friendship through a shared love for writing and painting. After losing the general election in 1929, he found time to spend summers in France at the home of his cousin Consuelo Balsan in Normandy. Churchill enjoyed the company of fellow artists and he and Maze painted together during the year of 1934 and for many summers after.

On 20 August 1939, Churchill was painting alongside Maze when he suddenly turned to his friend and said:

“This is the last picture we shall paint in peace for a very long time.”

Maze recorded that Churchill was depressed as he left France for England shortly afterwards: “I had written a letter to him ‘only to read when he was over the Channel’: ‘Don’t worry Winston, you know that you will be Prime Minister and lead us to victory…”

Winston Churchill and Paul Maze’s friendship would continue until Churchill’s death in 1965. Somewhat fourteen years later, Paul Maze died in 1979 and the same year his granddaughter Jeanne Maze married Robert Churchill, the first cousin of Winston Churchill.

And so, through Jeanne and Robert, the Churchill and Maze connection remains alive and strong. Coincidentally, the pair share Winston’s passion for Cognac and own the vignoble Domaine de Monplaisir, in the Borderies region of Cognac. Jeanne, like her grandfather, is also a talented artist and combines her love for painting in pastel with viticulture.