Lovely genre scene with a child and cats drinking milk was executed by high -listed French artist Paul Constant Soyer (1823 1823 -Paris- 1903). HIS PAINTINGS OF CHILDREN.ARRIVED HIGH AUCTION RESULTS OVER $28,000.Paul Constant Soyer was, without any doubt, one of the most representative painter artist of the Ecouen Colony. He was a student of Léon Cogniet (1794-1880). He exhibits the portrait of his mother at the 1847 Salon des Artistes Français (French Artists Salon). He’ll exhibit there until 1901.He is awarded a medal in 1870, a second class one in 1882 and a bronze one in the 1889 Paris Universal Exhibition. He develops an important activity in wood carving and etching. One of his large paintings was exhibited at the 1870 Salon de Paris. Later, it’ll enjoy the visitors of the 1867 Universal Exhibition, then the ones of the 1879 Beaux-Arts of Munich. It has been shown from 1866 to 1892 at the “Paris Musée du Luxembourg” (Paris Luxembourg museum) then given to “la Grande Chancellerie de la Légion d’Honneur” (Paris head quarter of the Legion d’Honneur Committee). From1958 to 1967, it was stored for restoration in the Paris Musée du Louvre. It can now be seen at the Paris Musée d’Orsay.His fame will bring to him a lot of students from the US, like Eliza Haldeman, well known for common life paintings. His best known student has been the great American painter Mary Stevenson Cassatt. She came in Ecouen to perfect her painting technique before going to other schools and meet success. Literature: Thieme/Becker "Allgemeines Lexikon der bildenden Künstler.."Leipzig, 1999 ;E.Benezit "Dictionnaire des peintres, sculpteurs, dessinateurs et graveurs",Gründ, 1999; in on-line: http://www.peintres-ecouen.com/paul-constant-soyer-e/ Inscription: signed lower right, on the back of the panel - labels with artist‘s biography. Technique: oil on mahagony wood panel. Original period gold-plated frame. Measurements: 7 1/3 " x 9 1/2" (18,7 x 24 cm), framed 11 3/4" x 13 3/4 " (30 x 35 cm) Condition: in very good condition.