John MacLauchlan Milne, RSA, RSW (1885-1957)

A Quayside, The South of France

Signed and dated ’31
Oil on Canvas
29 x 36¼ inches – 73.6 x 92 cms

Provenance: Private Collection, UK Exhibitions: London, Fine Art Society, November 1978 Artist Biography: John MacLauchlan Milne was born to an artistic family; his Father, Joseph Milne (1857-1911) and Uncle, William Watt Milne (1869-1949) were successful painters. Much of their influence is evident in his earlier workings. He studied first at George Watson’s College and then Edinburgh College of Art.

Soon after the completion of his studies Milne travelled to Canada where he worked for several years herding and tending to cattle. He returned shortly to Dundee before enlisting to the Royal Flying Corps, in whose company he served in France during the Great War.

In 1919 Milne returned to France in what would be one of many trips taken over the next decade. During the course of these visits he befriended and spent time with fellow Scottish painters Samuel John Peploe (1871-1935), Francis Campbell Boileau Cadell (1883-1937) and the Bloomsbury group artist, Duncan Grant (1885-1978). Milne stayed in Paris in the rue des Quatres-Vents and then at Cassis and St Tropez in the Mediterranean. He was also known to have spent a great deal of time in the village of Lavardin, near Vendome.

Milne is often regarded as a post-colourist and was clearly influenced by Cadell, Hunter, Peploe and, of course, the likes of Cezanne, Van Gough and Gauguin. He painted mostly coastal scenes, landscapes and still lifes with a colourful palette and accentuated brushstrokes. He exhibited at the Glasgow Institute and the Royal Scottish Academy, as well as having numerous exhibits in London and New York. In 1985 a Centenary exhibition was held at Dundee Art Gallery and Museum. He was made an ARSA in 1934 and an RSA in 1938.

Milne moved to The Isle of Arran in Scotland before the outbreak of the Second World War, where he continued to paint until his death.

His work can be found in: Aberdeen Art Gallery, Edinburgh City Art Gallery, Dundee Art Society, Hunterian Art Gallery, Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Manchester Art Gallery, McLean Museum & Art Gallery, Collection of the City of Dundee, McManus Galleries and Museum, National Galleries of Scotland, National Trust for Scotland, Paisley Art Gallery, Perth Museum and Art Gallery, the Royal Scottish Academy and the collection of Clydesdale Bank.