Visit Quebec City in paintings

The Saint-Jean-Baptiste is behind us, but there is still other reasons to celebrate, with Canada Day on July 1st and the celebration of Quebec City on July 3rd!

You have previously seen the province of Quebec through the eyes of great painters (click here if you haven’t!); now is your chance to visit Quebec City through artworks, hometown of the Perreault Gallery!

First stop: Quebec Through the trees

Come, come closer! Robet Pilot seemed to be watching our beautiful city from afar when he painted this oil on wood panel in 1929. The artist, born in 1898 in Newfoundland, lived most of his life and died in Montreal in 1967. Is it for this reason that he painted the Capitale-Nationale as if he were taking a last look on the way back to his home? Perhaps!

Second stop: Vieux-Québec

Our visit begins in Old Town or Vieux-Québec, a historic district featured in the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List since December 3, 1985. Marc-Aurèle Fortin paid tribute to this iconic place in Quebec City with this watercolor in 1940 by presenting not only the buildings of the district, but also the countryside in the back, still present in these years. Oh, how the city has changed!

Third stop: Parliament of Quebec

Let’s take a moment to look at the Parliament, the heart of Quebec’s democracy, painted here by Lionel Fielding Downes in 1956. This Englishman traveled all over the continent before falling in love with the Quebec City region and settling here. The colors of the surrounding vegetation border the building to create a movement in this beautiful oil on masonite.

Fourth stop: Rue St-Louis

Let’s continue on Rue St-Louis; Although Patrick Kinn usually paint the New York scenery (click here to see more), the artist born in Paris but located in Montreal decided to immortalize this street where tourists and locals alike mingle with each other all year long. Despite the rain, the corner is bubbling with life in this acrylic on canvas, as in real life!

Fifth stop: Place D’Armes

Let’s stop for a moment on the Place d’Armes side. Betty Baldwin, born in England, used to paint parts of Old Quebec such as the Rue des Remparts or the Ursuline Convent. “It’s now my country and I will never leave it. For an artist, the best place is Quebec City.” We can easily understand why  she chose this park for an oil on canvas, around 1955!

Sixth stop: Rue du trésor

Let’s take a few steps on the rue du trésor to go back in time in the early 1950s. Originally from Grand-Mère, Jeanne-D’Arc Leclerc studied at the School of Fine Arts in Quebec before hosting exhibitions in Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa and San Francisco. We see in this oil on canvas the figurative style made with a spatula and the colors of the works filled with the brightness of this artist!

Seventh stop: Parc Montmorency

Enjoy the sun at Parc Montmorency, with a breathtaking view of the Château Frontenac, courtesy of Francesco Iacurto! The youngest student at the École des Beaux-Arts in Montreal, at age 14, graduated in 1923 with Paul-Émile Borduas and Sylvia Daoust. We can feel the painter’s craftsmanship and talent in this artwork made in 1989!

Eighth stop: Promenade à la Côte-de-la-Montagne & Basse-Ville

Let’s continue our visit by going down the Côte-de-la-Montagne, returning in recent times; in this case in 2016, with Normand Boisvert offering us a snowy landscape. Let’s take a walk through the colorful buildings along the St. Lawrence River and under the benevolent eye of Château Frontenac! No wonder many private and public collections have acquired paintings by the self-taught artist from Trois-Rivières!

Last stop: Perreault Gallery

Let’s walk in the Petit Champlain until our last stop, on Saint-Paul Street: the Perreault Gallery, of course! Come visit us, it’s always a pleasure to see you! You will be able to admire these beautiful paintings close – don’t be sad if you can’t make it to Quebec City to choose your next artwork, we can send it to you wherever you are in the world! (Click here to find out more)