David B Milne: A Catalogue Raisonné of the Paintings, Volumes 1 and 2

Thomas M.F. Gerry is an associate professor of English at Laurentian
University and the editor of Arachne.

This catalogue raisonné is the second of the four-part $1.21-million
project on the life and work of Canadian artist David Brown Milne
(1882–1953). First to appear was David Silcox’s superb biography,
Painting Place (1996); forthcoming are a CD-ROM containing all of
Milne’s paintings in color and a volume of Milne’s writings to be
edited by David Milne, Jr. This catalogue raisonné, begun in 1969, is
the most comprehensive one ever devoted to a Canadian artist.

Milne, Jr., and Silcox state that the purpose of the catalogue
raisonné is “to provide an accurate and detailed authentification of
each of David Milne’s paintings” in oil and watercolor. In
chronological order, all 2725 paintings are reproduced in
black-and-white photographs; of those, 193 are also beautifully
reproduced in color. The editors are leaving for an unspecified future
volume Milne’s nearly 3000 drypoint etchings, prints, and drawings.
The volume under review will remind readers of the great joy of
experiencing Milne’s work; his paintings feature intriguing patterns
of tactile vision that challenge ordinary ways of seeing. This
monumental catalogue raisonné is a fitting tribute to Milne’s
creative restlessness and uncompromising artistic spirit.