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.
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 LilleFrançois Souchon[2]
in 1834. Four years later, he studied withIn 1842, his depiction of the martyrdom of Saint Lawrence earned him a scholarship to study in Rome, at the Atelier Wicar . 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 .
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-AndréCrucifixion), the Église Saint-Michel (decorations and a tableau of 16 paintings on the acts of Saint Michael), and the Église saint-Pierre-Saint-Paul . A collection of Old Testament scenes are among his works on display at the Palais des Beaux-Arts.
, the Église Saint-Catherine (including a largeA street in Lille is named after him.