Break Time
Undated watercolor painted by William Atwood “Bill” Millet (1922-2007), labeled as U-39. The dimensions are 16″ x 12″. It depicts workers on break in a shipyard. This work has more in common with the artist’s unfinished sketches than works such as portraits of his mother. Much of his work was done while overseas, after WWII, while he later spent a lot of time in places such as Hampton Beach, NH.
Bill Millett, born in Brockton, MA, was the last of the family to live in Westford. He was the son of Grace (1889-1971) and Nathan Walton Millett (1871-1955). Bill served during WWII in the US Navy, and professionally trained to be an artist in Paris after his honorable discharge. He lived in the family home in Westford on and off throughout his life, often traveling to the coast to paint. Much of his artwork was signed “WM” or “Millet,” the more traditional spelling of his surname. His landscapes were normally done in watercolor, while his portraits were often done in acrylic, oil, and charcoal. He did not sell his later works, but after their discovery in the family home after his death, many were exhibited by Westford’s Parish Center for the Arts and Guild of Boston Arts between 2012 and 2013. His sketchbooks and much of his art were originally donated to the J.V. Fletcher Library, which transferred the collection to the museum between 2020 and 2025.
See the online The Atwood Carlton Millett exhibit for more info on the family.
Not accessioned