Alphonse Colas

Alphonse-Victor Colas (25 September 1818, Lille - 11 July 1887, Lille) was a French painter and art teacher. He specialized in portraits and religious art.

Self-portrait (1885)

The Widow's Denarius

Life and work

He was the fifth of seven children born to Jean-Joseph Colas (1779–1858), a tax official, charged with collecting the "contributions directes" in Verlinghem, and his wife, Adélaïde Thérèse née Leprêts (1786–1838).^[1]

He enrolled at the École des beaux-arts de Lille [fr] in 1834. Four years later, he studied with François Souchon^[2]

In 1842, his depiction of the martyrdom of Saint Lawrence earned him a scholarship to study in Rome, at the Atelier Wicar [fr]. During his stay in Italy, from 1843 to 1848, he travelled throughout the country, studying the works of the Old Masters. In 1856, he became a Professor of painting in Lille. His notable students there include Alfred Agache, Edgar-Henri Boutry, Léon Comerre, Albert Darcq, Pharaon de Winter and Gaston Thys [fr].

In 1850, he married Elodie Joséphine née Holle (1823–1895); daughter of the Chief Notary. They had three sons and two daughters.^[1]

He was one of the most notable church painters of his time, fulfilling numerous commissions in the region. Among many other places, he created religious scenes at the Église Saint-André [fr], the Église Saint-Catherine [fr] (including a large Crucifixion), the Église Saint-Michel [fr] (decorations and a tableau of 16 paintings on the acts of Saint Michael), and the Église saint-Pierre-Saint-Paul [fr]. A collection of Old Testament scenes are among his works on display at the Palais des Beaux-Arts.

A street in Lille is named after him.