About 560 Piedmont
Historic John Young-Hunter Home & Artist’s Compound, Taos, New Mexico Private and secluded yet just minutes from town, this rare historic compound is one of Taos’ true treasures. Set on 5.17 serene acres with towering shade trees, inviting courtyards, and lush gardens, the property includes a gracious main residence and two guest cottages—a sanctuary for those who value heritage, artistry, and timeless New Mexico beauty. The John Young-Hunter House began in the early 1880's as simple adobe rooms and a log cabin, expanded and lived in over two centuries by a succession of owners, most notably John Young-Hunter, the celebrated Scottish portrait artist who called Taos home for more than fifty years. Part of the legendary circle of artists, writers, and visionaries drawn to Taos beginning in the mid-19th century, Young-Hunter was a close friend of Mabel Dodge and Tony Luhan, who helped him find this two-hundred-year-old adobe soon after his arrival in 1917. Young-Hunter transformed the property with the help of fellow artists: Nicolai Fechin carved decorative doors, lintels, and columns; Leon Gaspard designed and forged the distinctive ironwork and gates; and Henry Mercer, founder of the Moravian Pottery in Pennsylvania, contributed prototype tiles that are still visible today. Young-Hunter himself added painted details, including the Scottish thistle and family coat of arms on the west portal. Fully restored to provide modern amenities while retaining its historic soul, the home offers rich character and artistic provenance rarely found in today’s market. The small south side studio, believed to be Young-Hunter’s original workspace, has been sensitively modernized. Historic estates of this significance are seldom offered for sale. This is a remarkable opportunity for the discerning buyer seeking a home deeply woven into the artistic legacy of Taos—a cabin built in approximately 1850.
