By the homes of Degas and Renoir, Paris street artists face a lonely struggle

A bustling Belle Epoque square has fallen silent, bringing hard times to today's painters

In normal times Paris's famous Place du Tertre - the artists' square" - is packed with tourists and visiting out-of-towners, even on a chilly January afternoon. In the time of coronavirus, however, the square, home to painters, portraitists, caricaturists and silhouette artists, is almost entirely deserted.

The cafes and brasseries are closed, their terrace chairs chained up, and only a handful of the more optimistic artists have braved the cold for a few hours before the 6pm curfew kicks in.