Musée Charles Milcendeau

Charles Milcendeau (1872-1919) was one of the greatest draughtsmen of the late 19th century. Trained at the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts in Paris, he worked in the studios of Gustave Moreau, Georges Rouault, Henri Matisse and Albert Marquet, with whom he became close friends. Recognised by the art critics of his day and exhibited in the most prestigious museums in France and abroad, Charles Milcendeau astonished people and made a name for himself thanks to the realism of his works, the interiors of the market gardeners he loved so much and the landscapes he had seen on his many travels (Brittany, Corsica, the Netherlands, Spain...).

In this modern, intimate museum at Bois-Durand, his "Sacred Wood", on the edge of the Soullans marshes, you can discover more than 80 works, some of which have never been exhibited before.

You can also visit the house where he lived with his wife Marguerite, classified as a Historic Monument and awarded the "Maisons des Illustres" label, and enjoy a timeless moment in the patio and paths of his garden.

Let our enthusiastic team guide you on tours, workshops, treasure hunts and unusual evening events. An exceptional, varied and free programme of events will allow you to discover the artistic world of Charles Milcendeau in all its forms!


Milcendeau, The making of an artist (1891-1914)

The temporary exhibition :

Discover the world of Charles Milcendeau, an artist born in Soullans whose career flourished in Paris between 1891 and 1914. The exhibition, which has been designated an "Exhibition of National Interest", traces his career from the time he entered the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts in Paris until the First World War.

Arriving in Paris in 1891, Milcendeau joined the Académie Julian and then Gustave Moreau's studio. There he developed his drawing and painting skills. Influenced by the Dutch and French masters, Charles Milcendeau tried his hand at various techniques and styles, taking part in numerous Salons and the 1900 Paris Universal Exhibition, and enriching his work by travelling extensively. This period of experimentation led him to refine his unique style. At the heart of the social and artistic society of the early 20th century, he rubbed shoulders with Rouault, Matisse, Evenepoel, Rodin, Toulouse-Lautrec and Auguste Lepère.

Thanks to the support of renowned critics and gallery owners, Milcendeau exhibited his work in the gallery of Durand-Ruel, gallery owner of the Impressionists, and quickly became part of public collections. He exported his work internationally, both in Europe and the United States. The First World War brought his career to a halt, bringing him back to the Vendée until his death in 1919.

Through a hundred or so works, including some from the collections of the Musée d'Orsay and the Musée Gustave Moreau, collectors' items and photographs, on show for the first time in Soullans, immerse yourself in the artistic development of Charles Milcendeau and discover how he established himself as one of the greatest French pastellists of the 20th century.