The Art Collector - Victor- Marais-Milton (1872 - 1948)

Oil on panel
Signed lower left: “A monsieur David, un bon souvenir. V. Marrais Milton”

Dimensions: 37 x 35 cm, 53 x 45 cm(framed)

Victor Marais -Milton was a French artist, born in 1872 in Puteaux. Early in his career he lived in Paris but later moved to Sèvres where he remained until his death. He studied in the atelier of Jonchère, but has also been linked to Ernest Meissonnier, who by the end of his career had become a master of genre painting and an inspiration to many artists while working as a teacher in his own atelier for the École des Beaux-Arts.

This particular artwork features a cardinal, recognisable by his crimson robes, seated in a ornately decorated interior. The cardinal delicately sifts through a folder, examining what appears to be art prints or watercolors. The table next to him is adorned with an array of items, including more art prints, vibrant flowers in a vase, plump oranges and an elegant tea set.

Marais-Milton’s skill as a painter shines through in his meticulous attention to the textures and intricate patterns of the interior’s decor. The work invites the viewer to step into a world of grandeur and elegance of a bygone era.