John Maclauchlan Milne 1885-1957

John Maclauchlan Milne who died on 28th October 1957 was born in 1885. He was educated in Edinburgh, where he attended George Watson's College. His father, Joseph Milne, who was an artist, allowed his son to follow his own bent, and young Milne at an early age made up his mind to become a painter.

First, however, there was an interlude in Canada, where he spent some years as a cowboy. These early experiences left their mark on Milne’s personality. He had a jaunty air a slightly “‘ dandified ” taste in dress, and his swarthy face was framed by side whiskers of the cowboytype.

These characteristics were, however, only the outward signs of a warm andlovable personality who was universally popular with his colleagues. Colour attracted him, and visits to Paris, where he came in contact with impressionists and post-impressionists, developed his natural gifts.

Like Peploe, he saw Cezanne and was immediately conquered. There was a complete break between the early atmospheric paintings which showed the Scottish Dutch influence of that time, and the later canvasses painted in Provence. Here in the Midi, Milne found himself and the impact of this new experience stamped all his subsequent work. 

He painted numerous pictures under the generictitle of “ Paysage de Provence,”’ and was inspired in someof his most colourful landscapes by scenes from St. Tropez, Venice, and other districts of the South of France, while, at home, he found congenial subjects in

Suilven, the Cuillins, Cir Mhor, Glen Sannox, and in the ever-changing beauty of Iona. Maclauchlan Milne was elected an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1933 and became an Academician in 1937. Shortly before the Second World Warhe settled in Corrie, Island of Arran. Mr Milne is survivedby his wife.

RSA Obituary, transcribed from the 1957 RSA Annual Report