Westport River Gallery

French Artists Offer the Unique Montmartre

Three works are available if you like Montmartre, Paris. One by Dubord (left), Quizet, and a litho by Renoux. A hill that reaches a height of about 130 meters (427 feet), Stairs running up the Montmartre hill in Paris located in the north of Paris, Montmartre has long been known as the citys premier artist's enclave. "Montmartre" is translated to mean "mountain of the martyr" and was  from the martyrdom of Saint Denis - bishop of Paris - who was decapitated on the hill in 250 AD. This hill was settled because, during the 19th century emperor Napoleon gave much of the prime land in the city to his wealthy friends, who were charged with developing it. The original residents were forced to move to Paris's outskirts where they quickly established their own "town" sans the rules and regulations of the city. That's part of the reason Montmartre became a popular drinking area, and by the late 18th century, along with the liquor came places that were less than reputable, like Moulin Rouge and Le Chat Noir (The Black Cat). Source.

Montmartre by Alphonse Quizet, Utrillo Teacher

Shown here is "Street in Montmartre" by Alphonse Leon Quizet, who was born in Paris in 1885, and passed away in 1955. He became an important member of the school of Montmartre spending his life from infancy to old age on the hill of Montmartre, painting in the streets below the Sacre Coeur. This picture is 8.75x13, excluding frame. The Fauves, Nabis, Post- Impressionists, Cubists, Surrealists drew their inspiration from the school of Montmartre. Maurice Utrillo became his protégé (their paintings were similar and sometimes mistaken for each other). His works were exhibited at the Salon des Independants, the Salon Paris Moderne and the Salon des Tuilleries (1907-55). His work is in the collections of the Musee Nationale d’Art Moderne, the Petit Palais (restrospective in 1976), the Musee des Beaux- Arts and the Musee du Luxembourg. Call if interested. 203-226-6934.