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Maurice Utrillo 1883-1955
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Utrillo, Maurice: (Paris 1883 -Dax 1955).
The son of Suzanne Valadon and of an unknown
father, Maurice Utrillo was born in Montmartre on December 26th 1883.
Working as a model for the artists Puvis de Chavannes, Renoir and
Toulouse-Lautrec, Suzanne Valadon rapidly neglected her son and devoted
herself to painting instead. The young Maurice was left in the care of
his grand-mother but coping with his loneliness and the absence of his
mother he soon became addicted to drink. Already, at the age of 21 he
suffered the first symptoms of a deep mental disorder. From then on,
fits of explosive anger, scandals and internments in lunatic asylums
became his common lot during many years. Luckily, such mental
illness resulted in an urge to paint. Following the advice of a doctor,
who was also a close friend, Suzanne Valadon encouraged her son to start
up a career thinking that painting could prove to be a useful therapy
for him. Nevertheless, she soon understood that he was endowed with a
real talent. As early as 1926, Maurice Utrillo became famous and his
works were much in demand by collectors. He married Lucie Pauwels in
1935 and settled in the Paris suburb of Le Vésinet where he led a
peaceful life working daily until his death on November 5th 1955. |
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