RUE DE LA JONQUIERE

Painted in 1909, Rue de la Jonquiere was painted with John Constable's philosophy - that there is no ugly thing in the world that a good painter cannot make beautiful. Utrillo painted this scene on cardboard, like many of his earlier works. He painted the narrow street from a window, away from people, largely because of his addiction to alcohol. Maurice Utrillo was a French painter born as Maurice Valadon, son of Marie-Clementine "Suzanne" Valadon, an acrobat, model, and artist, who was well acquainted with several famous artists.