Grandes-Carrières in Paris in Département de Paris, Île-de-France, France — Western Europe
Le Gaumont-Palace illuminé la nuit
Le Quartier de la Place de Clichy
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the Place de Clichy neighbourhood
| — | Paris Vues d’Artistes | — |
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, April 12, 2025
1. Le Gaumont-Palace illuminé la nuit Marker
Élève de Benjamin Constant et de Jules Lefebvre à l'Académie Julian, Louis Abel-Truchet est un peintre et affichiste français ayant une certaine prédilection pour la vie nocturne parisienne qu'il traite dans une veine post-impressionniste. Il peint le Gaumont-Palace deux ans après son ouverture au public, un soir, alors que la foule se presse vers l'entrée principale. La rue Caulaincourt est particulièrement animée, traversée de part et d'autre par des calèches. Le Gaumont-Palace devient la source de lumière qui irradie la foule venant de l'obscurité.
The Gaumont Palace was the largest cinema ever built in France. It was born of the transformation of Place Clichy’s former Hippodrome theatre, which was purchased by Léon Gaumont in 1910. In 1930, the architect Henri Belloc created a new, 6,000-seat auditorium. But during the 1960s, the economic crisis had even more of an impact on the Gaumont Palace than on other cinemas, due to its sheer size. Various plans to keep it running were attempted, but to no avail. The Gaumont Palace was demolished in 1972.
A pupil of Benjamin Constant and Jules Lefebvre at the Académie Julian, Louis Abel-Truchet was a French painter and poster artist with a fondness for Paris nightlife, which he depicted in a Post-Impressionist vein. He painted the Gaumont Palace two years after it opened to the public, in the evening, when the crowd was gathering around the cinema’s main entrance. The street is particularly busy, with horse-drawn carriages going in all directions. The Gaumont Palace becomes the light source illuminating the crowd as it surges out of the darkness.
Erected by Ville
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1910.
Location. 48° 53.101′ N, 2° 19.773′ E. Marker is in Paris, Île-de-France, in Département de Paris. It is in Grandes-Carrières. It is on Rue Forest. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 Rue Forest, Paris, Île-de-France 75018, France. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, a coastal Mediterranean country, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a French colony and also the Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: L’Hippo-Palace (here, next to this marker); Le boulevard de Clichy sous le neige (within shouting distance of this marker); Le cimetiere Montmartre (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Cimetière Montmartre (1825) (about 120 meters away); Lycee Jules Ferry Deported Jewish Students Memorial (about
Photographed by Louis Abel-Truchet (via Wikimedia Commons), 1911
2. Le Gaumont-Palace illuminé la nuit
More about this marker. This is one of eleven markers forming the Vues d’Artistes trail in Paris’ 17th and 18th arrondissements, tying paintings by famous French painters to the immediate surroundings.
Also see . . .
1. “Artists views of Paris” (Ville de Paris). Website (as linked to by the QR code) of the Artists’ views of Paris marker trail, including the marker text and image for each of the eleven paintings, as well as a map of the trail. (Submitted on January 25, 2026.)
2. Louis Abel-Truchet. Overview:
Louis Abel-Truchet (29 December 1857 – 9 September 1918) was a French painter and poster artist. He was known for landscapes, genre scenes and depictions of Parisian nightlife.(Submitted on January 25, 2026.)
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, April 12, 2025
3. Le Gaumont-Palace illuminé la nuit Marker - wide view
The marker is visible here on the left corner of the building.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 25, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 33 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 25, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
