Maurice UtrilloMaurice UtrilloFrench Painter of the early 1900’sFrench Painter of the early 1900’s

Maurice UtrilloMaurice Utrillo Maurice was born on December 26Maurice was born on December 26thth, 1883, the son of , 1883, the son of

Suzanne Valadon.Suzanne Valadon. His mother was a famous painter and a model for His mother was a famous painter and a model for

Renoir, Degas and Toulouse Lautrec.Renoir, Degas and Toulouse Lautrec. Maurice was raised by his grandmother who was Maurice was raised by his grandmother who was

quite strict!quite strict! As a young child his mother taught him to paint.As a young child his mother taught him to paint.

Maurice UtrilloMaurice Utrillo Maurice liked to model for his mother’s paintings, Maurice liked to model for his mother’s paintings,

because he could spend time with her.because he could spend time with her. When he was 8 years old, Miguel Utrillo, a Spanish When he was 8 years old, Miguel Utrillo, a Spanish

art critic and a friend of his mothers’ was worried art critic and a friend of his mothers’ was worried that he did not have a father and gave him his last that he did not have a father and gave him his last name.name.

After recognizing Maurice as his son this was the After recognizing Maurice as his son this was the last time he would see him!last time he would see him!

Maurice UtrilloMaurice Utrillo Maurice did not do well at Maurice did not do well at

school, he was withdrawn school, he was withdrawn and shy.and shy.

His mother suggested His mother suggested painting as an outlet for his painting as an outlet for his unhappiness.unhappiness.

She taught him well, but he She taught him well, but he had emotional and physical had emotional and physical problems to overcome.problems to overcome.

At 18 he was put in an At 18 he was put in an Asylum to fight his illness, Asylum to fight his illness, he had problems with he had problems with Alcoholism and was Alcoholism and was institutionalized many times institutionalized many times in life.in life.

Maurice liked the Asylum as Maurice liked the Asylum as a retreat and took up a retreat and took up painting again as therapy.painting again as therapy.

Maurice UtrilloMaurice Utrillo In the fall and winter of In the fall and winter of

1903, he created over 1903, he created over 150 canvases.150 canvases.

All of his paintings All of his paintings contained some kind of contained some kind of architecture, he seldom architecture, he seldom painted portraits.painted portraits.

He once said, ‘He once said, ‘I believe I I believe I am too shy. I cannot am too shy. I cannot look people straight in look people straight in the eye, so cannot paint the eye, so cannot paint them well. Sometimes I them well. Sometimes I do paint human figures do paint human figures but the further in the but the further in the background they are, background they are, the better I like them.’the better I like them.’

Maurice UtrilloMaurice Utrillo One rainy evening in 1905, unable to sell any of his One rainy evening in 1905, unable to sell any of his

paintings to a gallery, he walked up to a man in the paintings to a gallery, he walked up to a man in the street and offered him a painting.street and offered him a painting.

The stranger happened to be the son of a famous The stranger happened to be the son of a famous artist, Pisarro.artist, Pisarro.

This man recognized the value of the paintings and This man recognized the value of the paintings and by the next day all of Maurice’s paintings had been by the next day all of Maurice’s paintings had been sold!sold!

Maurice UtrilloMaurice Utrillo Art critics finally began to see Utrillo, an unknown Art critics finally began to see Utrillo, an unknown

artist, as an asset to the art worldartist, as an asset to the art world.. The years 1906 to 1914 were considered to be the era The years 1906 to 1914 were considered to be the era

when Utrillo’s genius blossomed, his paintings during when Utrillo’s genius blossomed, his paintings during this time were called the ‘White Period’ because he this time were called the ‘White Period’ because he used a lot of lead white paint. used a lot of lead white paint.

By 1920 Maurice Utrillo was famous throughout the By 1920 Maurice Utrillo was famous throughout the world.world.

Maurice UtrilloMaurice Utrillo He was unfit to serve in the He was unfit to serve in the

army during the four years of army during the four years of World War 1, Utrillo painted World War 1, Utrillo painted over 1,200 canvases during the over 1,200 canvases during the war time.war time.

By 1925 he was quite poorly in By 1925 he was quite poorly in health and he was in and out of health and he was in and out of the asylum. He would drink all the asylum. He would drink all day and paint all night.day and paint all night.

Maurice was declared Maurice was declared incompetent and all of his incompetent and all of his money affairs were turned over money affairs were turned over to his mother and step-father. to his mother and step-father. The 3 of them argued all the The 3 of them argued all the time as they tried to live time as they tried to live together!together!

Maurice UtrilloMaurice Utrillo At the age of 55, Maurice married a family friend, a At the age of 55, Maurice married a family friend, a

painter named Laucie, age 66.painter named Laucie, age 66. He was very happy to be married and not living with He was very happy to be married and not living with

his mother and stepfather anymore and declared his mother and stepfather anymore and declared himself free and stopped drinking!himself free and stopped drinking!

He was looked after by his wife for the rest of his life.He was looked after by his wife for the rest of his life. Maurice died of heart complications in 1955, he was Maurice died of heart complications in 1955, he was

72 years old.72 years old.

Maurice UtrilloMaurice Utrillo

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Maurice UtrilloMaurice Utrillo

‘‘Street in the Suburbs’ 1916, Oil on Street in the Suburbs’ 1916, Oil on CanvasCanvas