Maximilien Luce Notre-Dame de Paris 1900

Île de la Cité is an island in the River Seine, once known as Lutetia, and is the oldest settlement in Paris, France. It is one of two natural islands in the river, the other being Île Saint-Louis. The island has a rich history that dates back to ancient times. It is believed to have been settled by the Parisii, a Celtic tribe, in the 3rd century BC. In 52 BC, the Romans conquered the island and established a city there, which they called Lutetia. The island was the site of several important events in French history, including the signing of the Edict of Nantes in 1598 and the French Revolution. Today, Île de la Cité is home to many famous landmarks, including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Palais de Justice. Île de la Cité with sights such as the Pont Neuf, the Pont de l’Archevêché and Notre Dame cathedral, makes it the central crossroads of the city, which grew outwards from here. Ile de la Cité is the perfect place for a riverside picnic.

Maximilien Luce (1858-1941) was a French painter and printmaker associated with the Neo-Impressionist movement. He was born in Paris and began his artistic training at the Académie Suisse in 1876, where he met fellow artists such as Georges Seurat and Paul Signac. Luce's early work was influenced by the Impressionists, but he later adopted the Neo-Impressionist technique of pointillism, which used small dots of colour to create a sense of light and movement. He also became interested in social and political issues, and many of his paintings depict working class life and labour struggles. Luce was a prolific artist, producing hundreds of paintings, drawings and prints throughout his career. He exhibited regularly at the Salon des Indépendants and other exhibitions, and his work was well received by critics and collectors. Today, Luce is considered one of the most important Neo-Impressionist artists and his work is represented in major museums around the world.