Born in Paris with the name of Maurice Valadon, Maurice Utrillo specilized in painting city scenes, especially of his beloved Paris. It is said that he is one of the most copied and forged artist in history.

He was the son of teenage model, Marie-Clementine Valade, who painted under the name of Suzanne Valadon, and perhaps an amateur painter name Boissy. Unsure of the father, Valadon reportedly took him around among some of her male acquaintances including Renoir, all whom denied parentage, and so she named him after Miguel Utrillo, who was sympathetic but likely not the father. Among the artists for whom Valadon posed were Berthe Morisot, Toulouse Lautrec, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.

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