John Maclauchlan Milne

The board is sound. There is a small chip to the paint surface, lower centre and lower left. Otherwise in good overall condition. Held in simple gold painted composite frame. No visible retouching under ultraviolet light.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Milne painted a series of pictures of St Tropez after his move to the South of France in 1926. The list of his exhibits at the Royal Scottish Academy include St Tropez painted in 1926, the year of his arrival which was owned by Matthew L. Justice of Dundee. Although Milne certainly painted other views of St Tropez in the 1920s, including The Harbour at St Tropez which is dated 1928 (Sotheby's, Hopetoun House, 24 April 2006, lot 125), he did not exhibit another Riviera view in Edinburgh until 1949, when a painting belonging to Mr William Boyd of Dundee was exhibited with the title St Tropez. In 1950 and 1951 respectively two pictures entitled Port St Tropez were exhibited and it is likely that the present picture was one of these exhibits. The painting entitled The Harbour at St. Tropez depicts the view from a balcony made apparent by the inclusion of the wrought iron railings and yellow painted shutters. It seems likely therefore that Milne was staying in a hotel overlooking the port which explains why several of his pictures depict the activities of the port, crowded with fishing boats and vessels shipping wine from the local vineyards.

Milne was interested in the lives of the men and women that lived in St. Tropez and his pictures of the port were not meant to be merely picturesque. There is often the suggestion of human activity, the loading of a cart with wine barrels or a fisherman at work for instance. Milne painted St. Tropez when it was still a quiet fishing village, before being overtaken by an influx of tourists in the 1950s, when it was in its heyday when the likes of Pablo Picasso and Brigitte Bardot were frequent visitors. The local fishing boats have now been replaced by luxury yachts and the five storey fishermen's houses and warehouses have been converted into holiday apartments for the rich and famous.