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Lot Essay
Jean Fabris has confirmed the authenticity of this painting.
Born in Paris in 1883, Maurice Utrillo was the son of the artist and professional model Suzanne Valadon. Much has been written of Utrillo's chronic alcoholism and bouts of deep depression, followed by visits to hospitals and nursing homes for treatments. From an early age, on his physician's advice, his mother encouraged Utrillo to begin painting as an emotional outlet, in order to regain equilibrium and peace.
Utrillo quickly established his own creative style through self-study and advice from his artist mother. He had an aversion to painting outdoors, while people looked on, preferring instead to work in the isolation of his room. He would rely on memory and on the pile of postcards which his mother had given to him--the present work, for instance, depicts Saint-Léger Brouilly, in the northern part of Lyons. Executed in the fall of 1928, Une rue à Saint-Léger recalls the deft application and creamy palette of the celebrated manière blanche pictures for which Utrillo is justly celebrated.
Born in Paris in 1883, Maurice Utrillo was the son of the artist and professional model Suzanne Valadon. Much has been written of Utrillo's chronic alcoholism and bouts of deep depression, followed by visits to hospitals and nursing homes for treatments. From an early age, on his physician's advice, his mother encouraged Utrillo to begin painting as an emotional outlet, in order to regain equilibrium and peace.
Utrillo quickly established his own creative style through self-study and advice from his artist mother. He had an aversion to painting outdoors, while people looked on, preferring instead to work in the isolation of his room. He would rely on memory and on the pile of postcards which his mother had given to him--the present work, for instance, depicts Saint-Léger Brouilly, in the northern part of Lyons. Executed in the fall of 1928, Une rue à Saint-Léger recalls the deft application and creamy palette of the celebrated manière blanche pictures for which Utrillo is justly celebrated.