Rue Chappe Montmartre

The end of the 1930s was a period of profound change in Utrillo's life. In 1935, the artist married Lucie Pauwels without the consent of his mother Suzanne Valadon, who died three years after. Faced with her intense disapproval, Utrillo had to elope from his mother's Avenue Junot flat in Montmartre. He left with no possessions in order to meet his fiance who was waiting for him in a taxi while his mother screamed "Help! Help! Someone is kidnapping my son" at the top of her voice. Utrillo was fifty years old. After his wedding in Angoulme, he settled with his wife in her beautiful house Doulce France in Charente, where he continued to paint. In 1937, Paul Ptrids became his dealer, and organised several exhibitions which afforded the artist some considerable success.

In the present work, Utrillo returns to one of his favourite themes, the area of Montmartre and the streets of Paris. The juxtaposition of the strong diagonal planes of the buildings and the circular form of the white Sacr-Coeur basilica demonstrates his ability to convey the charm of Montmartre in a strongly organized composition.

Jean Fabris has kindly confirmed the authenticity of this painting.