Vincent van Gogh · End of September - beginning of October 1888 · Arles
Paul-Eugène Milliet, known as Le Lieutenant, F473Reproduction of oil painting on canvas
Red kepi, black uniform and confident look: second lieutenant Paul-Eugène Milliet stands out against an emerald green marked with the crescent and star of his regiment.
Hand paintedOil on canvasA verified WebP imagePhoto validation
Paul-Eugène Milliet, known as Le Lieutenant, F473Vincent van Gogh · End of September - beginning of October 1888 · Kroeller-Müller Museum, Otterlo
End of September - beginning of October 1888Dating
60.3 × 49.5 cmDimensions of the original
Oil on canvasOriginal technique
Kroeller-Müller Museum, OtterloConservation
A real paintingThe canvas is hand painted, never printed.
Made to orderEach copy is created individually.
Controlled in photoYou review the completed table before sending.
Possible alterationsAdjustments may precede shipping.
Look at the work
Lieutenant Zouave transformed into an emblematic figure
Paul-Eugène Milliet serves as a second lieutenant in a Zouave regiment. In Arles, he sometimes accompanied Van Gogh, took some drawing lessons from him and shared his outings. The artist represents him in bust, strictly frontal, in a uniform whose braids, buttons and medal are treated as graphic signs.
The orange-red of the kepi contrasts with an emerald green background constructed by thick curved touches. In the upper corner, a crescent and a five-pointed star refer to Milliet's regiment. The face, painted more finely, remains the calm point between these powerful contrasts.
Van Gogh nicknamed this portrait "The Lover": Milliet became less of an official model than the image of an elegant man, confident and admired for his romantic adventures.
Composition, touch and color
Three observations specific to this painting
The strength of F473 comes from the very clear separation between the pale face, the almost black uniform, the red kepi and the saturated green background.
01
A red versus emerald
The kepi is the hottest accent on the canvas. Its complementary color of the green background immediately detaches the head.
02
Two ways of painting
The face is formed of fine and light touches, while the background receives a wide and thick material which revolves around the silhouette.
03
Crescent and star
These two signs in the upper corner are not an imaginary setting: they identify Milliet's membership in a Zouave regiment.
Documented benchmarks
Precisely identify the original work
The Kroeller-Müller Museum notice and the letter of September 29, 1888 identify the model, date, colors and emblems of F473/JH1588.
Model
Paul Eugene Milliet
The young second lieutenant frequented Van Gogh in Arles and transported a shipment of paintings when he reached Paris in the fall of 1888.
Nickname
The Lover
Van Gogh ironically admired Milliet's sentimental ease and conceived his portrait as the very type of lover.
Collection
KM 102.392
Helene Kroeller-Müller acquired the painting in 1912; it is today kept in the Otterlo museum.
Reproduction must preserve the finesse of the face, the depth of the uniform and the very visible material of the background without darkening the military details.
The red kepi bordered with black and gold
The crescent and the star in the green background
The dark arabesques of the uniform
The medal and the little orange buttons
Finer touches around the eyes and beard
Work sheet
Title
Paul-Eugène Milliet, known as Le Lieutenant, F473
Artist
Vincent van Gogh (1853 -1890)
Date
End of September - beginning of October 1888
Place of creation
Arles
Original technique
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
60.3 × 49.5 cm
Inventory
Kroeller-Müller Museum KM 102.392 · F473 · JH1588
Conservation
Kroeller-Müller Museum, Otterlo
Your reproduction
Handmade oil painting on canvas
From order to shipping
1
PreparationStudy of framing, proportions and colors.
2
Oil paintingManual production, layer after layer.
3
Photo validationChecking the table and requesting possible alterations.
4
Protected shippingCareful packaging and shipping with tracking.
In your interior
A military portrait with frank contrasts
The vertical format and deep green bring a strong presence to an office, library or living room. The red of the kepi responds particularly well to warm wood and leather.
Frequently asked questions
Before ordering
Is this a canvas print?
No. Each reproduction is manually painted in oil on canvas. Brushstrokes and material variations belong to the final result.
How is the visual reference chosen?
The public domain reference image was reduced to 2,391 × 3,000 px and then converted to WebP, without artificial enlargement.
Can I check the result before shipping?
Yes. Photographs of the finished painting are sent to you; you can request alterations before validating the shipment.
Are custom formats possible?
Yes. The format can be adapted to your wall while maintaining the proportions and balance of the original composition.
Oil painting on canvas
Photo before shipping
Canvas rolled, without frame
2px
70 cm
390 cm
Custom order
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A simple and reassuring process, from selecting the size to the tracked delivery of your canvas.
1
You choose the size
Select the desired size before ordering.
2
We paint the canvas
Your reproduction is hand-painted entirely in oil.
3
Photo for validation
We send you a photo to validate the result before shipping.
4
Tracked delivery
You receive your canvas rolled, protected, and shipped with tracking.
Same artist
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