Montmartre

Schofield immersed himself in the study of Impressionism while living in France during the 1890s. He stayed in Fontainebleau and Brittany, and toured the country with fellow American painters Robert Henri and William Glackens. Schofield was living in Paris when he painted this scene of Montmartre, a bohemian neighborhood that was the epicenter of the city’s avant-garde artistic activity. The view is likely from the window of the artist’s apartment, including the café and bistro he visited daily. Bright summer light traverses the varied textures and warm creams and ochres of the district’s distinctive stucco facades.  

A leading figure of American Impressionism, Schofield was born in Philadelphia. After briefly attending Swarthmore College, he worked as a cowboy in Texas, where ranch hands encouraged him to pursue art. He went on to attend the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia and the Académie Julian in Paris, where he studied French Impressionism. In 1902 he settled in St. Ives, Cornwall, painting its rugged coasts and harbors while returning to Pennsylvania in the winters.

We are always open to learning more about our collections and updating the website. We invite you to share your ideas, knowledge, and stories as they relate to the art in our collection. Contact us here.

Please note that work by this particular artist might not be on view when you visit.
Don’t worry—we have plenty of exhibitions for you to explore.