In the late 19th century, the Impressionist movement found a footing in Canada, and Quebec artists quickly responded with works of rare beauty and sophistication. Many Quebec artists trained in France during this period, carrying the pollen of European modernism back with them to Canadian soil. Landscape and city scenes were staples of their work, and this show will assemble a choice collection of master works that trace a journey from the bustling streets of Montreal—then Canada’s financial capital—down the St. Lawrence River to Quebec City and through the beloved Charlevoix region.
River of Dreams: Impressionism on the St. Lawrence offers not just a magisterial statement on the outstanding quality of Quebec painting, but also a glimpse into the heart and soul of a culture, seen through the eyes of her most beloved and foundational artists. The survey includes works by William Brymner, Ozias Leduc, James Wilson Morrice, Henrietta Mabel May, Robert Pilot, Marc-Aurèle de Foy Suzor-Coté, Maurice Cullen, Clarence Gagnon, and others, and is drawn from a host of public and private collections. To accent these works, archival photography and objects of material culture from the period deepen the viewer’s experience of the moment in which the artists were working. The result is an immersive time-travel experience like no other.
Curated by Anne-Marie Bouchard and Sarah Milroy.
