International studio (81.1925)

mceRnACionAL

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La Bibliotheque Canadienne
tells us that the large wooden
crucifix which is now kept in the
crypt of Notre Dame church in
Montreal was the work of Pepin
and Labrosse, Quevillon's pu-
pils. The reputation of this
artist and his associates was
surely not unknown to the Sul-
picians, for in the five years
from 1809 to 1813 the trustees
of Notre Dame church entrusted
him with the sum of five thou-
sand and forty pounds and nine-
teen shillings for the embellish-
ment of their church.

The rococo style, in great
vogue during the reign of Louis
XV of France, was the one
mainly adopted by Quevihon.
This style in Montreal and its
environs, we learn from Huguet-
Latour, was known as "le que-
villonnage." One of the most
complete examples of "Ie que-
villonnage" still existing in our
time is the church of St. Ma-
thias on the Richelieu River.
This remarkable church was
decorated by Quevillon and his
pupils, St. James dit Beauvais,
RoIIin, Dugal and Barrette, in
1821. ' I owe to the late Louis- the main altar of the church of notre-dametdes-anges, once the main
Zephyrin Gauthier an old archi- altar of the recollets church at Montreal, also the work of the

... r /' 7 r 1 saint vincent-de-paul guild

tect 01 Montreal (whose lather

had learned architecture and sculpture at the village steeple these architects, sculptors and

school of Quevillon in 1810), a few details of the painters learned the principles of religious art

regulations followed by the Arts School of St. only for no mention whatever was ever made to

Vincent de Paul. The guild seems to have reached them of the profane. In 1812 the members of the

its highest success between 1815 and 1817, when Association heard that the Yankees were invading

Quevillon was associated with three of his former Canadian territory. These brave Christians, hav-

pupils, Joseph Pepin, Rene St. James dit Beauvais ing been brought up with the conviction that after

and Paul RoIIin, all of whom had taken the degree the love of God there is no greater love than that

of master sculptor. Mr. Gauthier corroborates of country, all enlisted in the militia. The masters

the testimony of La Bibliotheque Canadienne held the rank of officers, the companions that of

when he informed me he knew from his father that non-commissioned officers, and the apprentices

at Quevillon's, reading, writing and mathematics fell into the rank and file.

were taught as well as sculpture, painting and The Guild met in the first days of the fall and

architecture. Religious instruction was also an worked during the long winter months. As soon

item in the tuition. as the ice of the river melted, the masters, accom-

The ground occupied by the school at St. Vin- panied by the companions and apprentices, went

cent de Paul was contiguous to that of the old in different directions through the province in

church. This latter, demolished about sixty-five order to instal the fruits of their winter labors, a

years ago, was built on a piece of land which was pulpit, a Way of the Cross, a cornice, a warden's

formerly the property of Jean Baptiste Quevillon, pew, or even the entire decoration of a church,

the father of Louis. Thus in the shadow of the The records of the notary of St. Vincent de Paul

september i () 2 5

four twenty-nine