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LADY MARIE-REINE-JOSEPHTE BELLEAU (Compiled by)
Lady Belleau Album
1835-83
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How can a sentiment album
be seen as a self-portrait?
Like today’s scrapbooks, early nineteenth-century sentiment albums expressed the life and interests of their creators. Unlike the artist who controls her image in a traditional self-portrait, assemblers of such albums invited friends, family members, and acquaintances to contribute verses, sketches, or autographs. The rise of photography in nineteenth-century Europe and North America hastened the demise of sentiment albums, as women turned to producing photographic collections.
An upper-class woman who lived in Quebec City, Lady Marie-Reine-Josephte Belleau (1812–1884) was married to Sir Narcisse-Fortunat Belleau, a prominent lawyer, politician, and businessman. Knighted in 1860, he later became Lieutenant-Governor of the province of Quebec. Her album, which she assembled throughout her life, offers a window into her milieu by means of her collection of drawings, watercolours, collages, photographs, and texts. Works by such significant Canadian artists as Cornelius Krieghoff and Théophile Hamel appear in these pages. Her sentiment album is a repository of memory, acknowledged relationships, and social identity.
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Flower & Scroll – Title Page
By an unknown artist, 1843
Lithograph in black, hand coloured with watercolour, heightened with gum arabic
1/107
Wreath of Roses
By Sr. St. Philippe, 1835
Watercolour
2/107
Lilies with Scroll
By an unknown artist
Lithograph in black, hand coloured with watercolour, heightened with gum arabic
3/107
Habitant Sled in Snow Storm
By an unknown artist
Watercolour over pencil, with extensive scraping out
4/107
Vers infames contre la tempérance!
Autograph copy by François-Xavier Garneau, 1854
Handwritten poem
5/107
Le Canada
Autograph copy by Octave Crémazie, 1857
Handwritten poem
6/107
Si j'étais peintre ou poète
Autograph copy by Adolphe Marsais, 1859
Handwritten poem
7/107
Zity, a Huron
By Cornelius Krieghoff
Watercolour and gouache over pencil
8/107
Bunch of Mauve Flowers
By an unknown artist
Oil on sheer fabric, signature in gold metallic paint, mounted diagonally
9/107
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Deux putti
By Théophile Hamel
Charcoal or black chalk, stumped, touched with white chalk on wove paper
10/107
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Pink Roses with Scroll
By an unknown artist
Lithograph in black, hand coloured with watercolour, heightened with gum arabic
11/107
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The Bridge at “Montmorenci” above the Falls
Work signed C. W.
Pencil, with single ruled framing line made by joining pin holes in each corner
12/107
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Landscape with Bridge
Work signed V.F., J
Pencil, with single ruled framing line
13/107
Portrait of a Woman with a Large Hat and Ermine Cape
By an unknown artist
Pencil, touched with pen and black ink
14/107
Portrait of a Young Girl with Bare Shoulders
By Antoine-Sébastien Plamondon, 1834
Pencil
15/107
An Altar to Friendship
By an unknown artist
Watercolour over traces of pencil
16/107
Water Lilies with Scroll
By an unknown artist
Lithograph in black, hand coloured with watercolour, heightened with gum arabic
17/107
Celestial Vision Surrounded by Wreath of Flowers
By St. François de Borgia, 1834
Watercolour with metallic gold
18/107
Silhouettes of Duc de Bordeaux and Mlle d’Artois
Work signed E. M. D. – Ursulines de Québec, 1843
Stumped pencil with stencils
19/107
Tomb and Weeping Willow in a Moonlit Landscape
By an unknown artist from the Ursulines de Québec
Gouache, heightened with gum arabic and glitter
20/107
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Woman with Walking Stick and Dog in a Landscape with Cottage
By an unknown artist
Watercolour over traces of pencil, heightened with gum arabic
21/107
Blue Hyacinth with Scroll. “Ven. Mère M. de l’Incarnation”
By an unknown artist
Lithograph in black, hand coloured with watercolour, heightened with gum arabic, small sepia photograph of nun pasted to scroll above inscription
22/107
A Young French Dauphin or King with a Sceptre of the Order of the Holy Spirit
By an unknown artist
Watercolour with touches of opaque white on velvet
23/107
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A Black and Orange Butterfly
By an unknown artist
Watercolour, gouache, black ink and gold metallic paint
24/107
“Accrostiche”
Autograph copy by Joseph-Guillaume Barthe, 1858
Handwritten poem
25/107
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Reclining Boy
Work signed SR. Rejan
Pencil, with opaque white and glitter
26/107
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Moonlight Landscape with Erupting Volcano
Work signed E. D.–Ursulines de Québec, 1845
Gouache
27/107
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Spotted Dog
By an unknown artist
Pencil, with glitter, in oval embossed border
28/107
Passion Flower and Rose
By an unknown artist
Watercolour over traces of pencil, heightened with gum arabic
29/107
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The Chase
By E.H. Blair, 1842
Pencil
30/107
Fuchsias with Scroll
By an unknown artist
Lithograph in black, hand coloured with watercolour
31/107
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Night View of an Erupting Volcano
By H. Swords
Gouache
32/107
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Five Gentlemen Drinking around a Table
By an unknown artist
Watercolour over pencil
33/107
Portrait of an Unknown Older Woman
By an unknown artist
Pencil on white wove paper
34/107
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Lake Beauport
By Samuel C. Hawksett, 1858
Watercolour and gouache
35/107
Parmi les biens que le ciel nous prodigue
Autograph copy by A.N. Morin, 1861
Handwritten poem
36/107
Souvenir de 1882
Autograph copy by Charles A. Gauvreau, 1883
Handwritten poem
37/107
Honeysuckle and Scroll: Mad. de la Peltrie
By an unknown artist
Lithograph in black, hand coloured with watercolour, heightened with gum arabic
38/107
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Cat Concert
By an unknown artist
Lithograph in black, hand coloured with watercolour and gouache, heightened with gum arabic
39/107
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A Dish of Fruit
By A. Olscamps, 1862
Watercolour, heightened with gum arabic
40/107
A Bunch of Grapes
Work signed Ste. Adélaïde
Chromolithograph decalbum page, transferred to card edged with gold foil border, within embossed album page
41/107
N.D. de Sion à Jérusalem – Fleurs de la Voie Douloureuse
By an unknown artist
Dried flowers mounted on card imprinted with image of cross, ladder, and spear
42/107
Jean Baptiste
Autograph copy by Adolphe Marsais, 1858
Handwritten poem
43/107
Pink Hyacinth with Two Scrolls
By an unknown artist
Lithograph in black, hand coloured with watercolour, heightened with gum
44/107
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Harbour View with Tower and Church
By an unknown artist, 1834
Pencil and grey wash, pen and black ink
45/107
A Nosegay of Roses, Passion Flower and Forget-Me-Nots
Work signed J. P., 1844
Watercolour over traces of pencil, heightened with gum arabic
46.1/107
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A Nosegay of Roses, Passion Flower and Forget-Me-Nots
Work signed J. P., 1844
Watercolour over traces of pencil, heightened with gum arabic
46.2/107
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Man Fishing from Bridge
By an unknown artist
Black chalk and scraping out on fine sandpaper
47/107
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River View with High Cliffs and Tree
By an unknown artist
Black chalk and scraping out on fine sandpaper
48/107
Lac d'Italie
By G. Woolsey
Gouache and watercolour, heightened with gum arabic
49/107
Juif d'Amsterdam
By Eugène Joseph Arthur Hamel
Pen and grey ink over pencil
50/107
Pink Roses with Scroll
By an unknown artist
Lithograph in black, hand coloured with watercolour, heightened with gum arabic
51/107
St. Laurent Parish Church
By an unknown photographer, 1856
Sepia photograph
52/107
Paysans espagnols
Work signed G. V. F.
Watercolour and gouache, heightened with gum arabic
53/107
Portrait du docteur Blanchet
Autograph copy by Adolphe Marsais, 1859
Handwritten poem
54/107
Portrait of Dr. Jean Blanchet
By Samuel C. Hawksett, 1858
Pencil
55/107
Pansies with Scroll
By Denyse Talbot, 1843
Lithograph in black, hand coloured with watercolour, heightened with gum arabic
56/107
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Landscape with Tower and Bridge
By an unknown artist
Oil on paper
57/107
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Sunset over a River with a Castle in the Distance
By an unknown artist
Oil on paper
58/107
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Landscape with Small Footbridge and Chalet
By an unknown artist
Watercolour and gouache
59/107
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La Supérieure de l’Hôpital Général de Québec
By an unknown artist
Watercolour over pencil, heightened with gum arabic with metallic gold
60/107
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Buttercups with Scroll
Work signed E. de F.
Lithograph in black, hand coloured with watercolour, heightened with gum arabic
61/107
Le Grimpereau Rouge / (Red Bird)
Work signed J. G. B.
Gouache and watercolour over traces of pencil
62/107
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Basket of Flowers and Fruit
Work signed C. D. N., 1862
Grey wash on embossed border paper
63/107
Moth and Butterfly on Flowering Branch
Work signed J. G. B., 1845
Watercolour and gouache, heightened with gum arabic
64/107
Deux dates, 1760/1867
Autograph copy by Adolphe Basile Routhier
Handwritten poem
65.1/107
Deux dates, 1760/1867
Autograph copy by Adolphe Basile Routhier
Handwritten poem
65.2/107
Deux dates, 1760/1867
Autograph copy by Adolphe Basile Routhier
Handwritten poem
65.3/107
Sweet Peas with Scroll
By an unknown artist
Lithograph in black, hand coloured with watercolour, heightened with gum arabic
66/107
Small Cottage in Landscape
By an unknown artist, 1836
Pencil on buff card
67/107
Monique Gros Louis, Lorette
By an unknown artist
Watercolour and gouache with gold, heightened with gum arabic
68/107
An Oriental Landscape
By A. Weil
Brown wash over traces of pencil
69/107
Ville portuaire
By an unknown artist
Pencil, watercolour and gouache on tinted commercial paper
70/107
Autograph inscription in Arabic with English translation
Autograph copy by Nasif Shedoody, 1850
Inscription
71/107
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Upper Town Market
By William Ogle Carlisle
Watercolour, pen and black ink over pencil, heightened with opaque white within ruled pencil borders on laid paper
72/107
Two Dead Game Birds
By William Lockwood, 1863
Sepia photograph, hand coloured with watercolour
73/107
Rose Buds and Scroll
By an unknown artist
Lithograph in black, hand coloured with watercolour, heightened with gum arabic
74/107
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An Artist Caught by the Rising Tide
By John Strang
Grey wash over pencil
75/107
Snow Drops and Scroll: "Sainte Thérèse"
By an unknown artist
Lithograph in black, hand coloured with watercolour, heightened with gum arabic
76/107
Portrait of Pope Gregory XVI
By an unknown artist
Pencil
77/107
Le Grimpereau vert
Work signed J. G. B.
Watercolour and gouache, heightened with gum arabic
78/107
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Still Life with Fruits
By an unknown artist
Watercolour over traces of pencil
79/107
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A Rustic Cottage in a Landscape
By A. Himsworth
Pen and brown ink, brown wash, over traces of pencil, touched with opaque
80/107
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A Picturesque Village
By A. Himsworth
Pen and brown ink, brown wash, over traces of pencil, touched with opaque
81/107
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Les Fleurs
Autograph copy by B.P., 1878
Handwritten poem
82.1/107
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Les Fleurs
Autograph copy by B.P., 1878
Handwritten poem
82.2/107
Blue Morning Glories with Scroll: "Evêque de Tloa"
By an unknown artist
Lithograph in black, hand coloured with watercolour, heightened with gum arabic
83/107
Le Médecin de village
By an unknown artist, 1859
Watercolour, gouache, pen and brown ink, brown wash, over pencil, heightened with gum arabic on paper with simulated birchbark border
84/107
L’Orage
Autograph copy by B.P., ca. 1878
Handwritten poem
85.1/107
L’Orage
Autograph copy by B.P., ca. 1878
Handwritten poem
85.2/107
Market Maid from the Canton of Uri, Switzerland
By an unknown artist
Watercolour and gouache, pen and black ink
86/107
Indian Woman with Basket
By an unknown artist
Watercolour and gouache over faint indications in pencil, depiction of snow covered with glitter
87/107
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Chutes du Niagara
By Giuseppe Fascio, 1848
Watercolour and gouache, heightened with gum arabic
88/107
Chalet à la Handech, Canton de Berne
By an unknown artist from the Ursulines de Québec
Gouache, heightened with gum arabic
89/107
Forget-Me-Nots with Scroll
By an unknown artist
Lithograph in black, hand coloured with watercolour, heightened with gum arabic
90/107
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Night View of a Burning Ship
By Georgina L'Aubiniere
Gouache, heightened with gum arabic
91/107
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A Brush and Palette
By Georgina L'Aubiniere
Watercolour and gouache, heightened with gum arabic
92/107
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River Landscape with Castle on Cliff
By an unknown artist
Watercolour, heightened with gum arabic
93/107
Tulip with Scroll
By an unknown artist
Lithograph in black, hand coloured with watercolour, heightened with gum arabic
94/107
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Bridge with Tower
Work signed J. W.
Pencil
95/107
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Profile of Napoleon beside a Tomb and Weeping Willow
By an unknown artist, 1838
Pencil
96/107
Primroses with Scroll
By an unknown artist
Lithograph in black, hand coloured with watercolour
97/107
A Brightly Plumed Parrot
By an unknown artist
Gouache and watercolour over pencil, heightened with gold
98/107
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La Jeune baigneuse
Autograph copy by Alfred Garneau, 1863
Handwritten poem
99.1/107
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La Jeune baigneuse
Autograph copy by Alfred Garneau, 1863
Handwritten poem
99.2/107
Lilies-of-the-Valley with Scroll
By an unknown artist, 1878
Lithograph in black, hand coloured with watercolour, heightened with gum arabic
100/107
“Montmorenci” Falls
Work signed L. W., 1836
Pencil with some opaque white
101/107
Regrets
Autograph copy by L.J.C. Fiset, 1861
Handwritten poem
102.1/107
Regrets
Autograph copy by L.J.C. Fiset, 1861
Handwritten poem
102.2/107
Regrets
Autograph copy by L.J.C. Fiset, 1861
Handwritten poem
102.3/107
Regrets
Autograph copy by L.J.C. Fiset, 1861
Handwritten poem
102.4/107
Regrets
Autograph copy by L.J.C. Fiset, 1861
Handwritten poem
102.5/107
Two Butterflies and a Twig
By an unknown artist
Watercolour and gouache over pencil, heightened with gum arabic
103/107
A Lady Belleau
Autograph copy by E.P. Taché, 1863
Handwritten poem
104/107
Souvenir of the Death of Julie Helene Van Felson
By an unknown artist, 1867
Pressed flowers, hair, ribbon, paper, photograph, with oval border in gold paint, pen and black ink, grey and pinkish-brown wash
105/107
Lake with Fir Trees
By E. E. Taché
Watercolour over pencil
106/107
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Court House, Québec
By Samuel S. Kilburn
Pen and black ink, watercolour touched with gouache and opaque white
107/107
The Artist Herself: Self-Portraits by Canadian Historical Women Artists is curated by Alicia Boutilier and Tobi Bruce, and organised and circulated by the Agnes Etherington Art Centre and the Art Gallery of Hamilton, with the generous support of the Government of Canada, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, the City of Hamilton, the City of Kingston Arts Fund through the Kingston Arts Council, and the Janet Braide Memorial Fund, Celebrate Agnes Fund and Iva Speers Fund for Art Education, Queen’s University.
The exhibition is on view at the following Canadian venues:
Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Queen’s University,
Kingston, ON (2 May–9 August 2015)
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, BC
(2 October 2015–3 January 2016)
Kelowna Art Gallery, BC (23 January–3 April 2016)
Art Gallery of Hamilton, ON (28 May–11 September 2016)
The interpretive material was compiled by Alicia Boutilier and Pat Sullivan, Agnes Etherington Art Centre
Photo credit for album image: Library and Archives Canada (e008300827-v8 to e008300827_s5-v8, e010767430-v8 to e010767533-v8)
Photo credit for Belleau photo: Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec. Gift of Gabrielle Baillargeon (1986.110)
Photo: Idra Labrie
Readings from ‘Ladies Albums’, Graham’s Magazine, vol.2, no.1, 1827, and Original Album Verses and Acrostics, Toronto/Clifton, Toronto News Co., c.1800, performed by Simon Gagnon
Recorded by Josh Lyon
Video of artist Rebecca Soudant produced by Josh Lyon
