Jean Baillairgé
Encyclopedia
Jean Baillairgé was a carpenter by trade and there is some reference to his being an architect. He was born in Blanzay
, France
and his death occurred at Quebec
, Lower Canada
.
Jean arrived at Quebec on August 30, 1741 on the same ship as Bishop Henri-Marie Dubreil de Pontbriand
and may have received assistance from the bishop to train in his field of carpentry. It is certain that he received his training in New France
and was considered to
be skilled in the production of accurate plans. He likely received most of his training on the worksite, which would have been normal for those times.
Baillairgé married in 1750 and was involved in construction on the church at Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière
where he and his wife had moved. They returned to Quebec City after this and he formed a partnership which developed a good reputation. He was a member of the militia during the Seven Years’ War and fought on the Plains of Abraham
.
. His plan was ultimately rejected with the new bishop, Jean-Olivier Briand
, siding with those opposed to his design. He threatened to leave the province but a successful proposal for the cathedral belfry in 1770 set his career on a solid footing. The remainder of his career had various church constructions as its focal point and the importance of his work Quebec to art and architecture was a product of that time.
, worked with his father and continued the family contribution to art and architecture. Another son, Pierre-Florent
, contributed significantly as a carver and joiner.
Blanzay
Blanzay is a commune in the Vienne department in the Poitou-Charentes region in western France....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and his death occurred at Quebec
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
, Lower Canada
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
.
Jean arrived at Quebec on August 30, 1741 on the same ship as Bishop Henri-Marie Dubreil de Pontbriand
Henri-Marie Dubreil de Pontbriand
Henri-Marie Dubreil de Pontbriand , who became the sixth bishop of Roman Catholic diocese of Quebec, was from a titled family and grew up at the Pontbriand château, , France. He received his classical education at La Flèche from the Jesuits and studied theology with the Sulpicians in Paris...
and may have received assistance from the bishop to train in his field of carpentry. It is certain that he received his training in New France
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
and was considered to
be skilled in the production of accurate plans. He likely received most of his training on the worksite, which would have been normal for those times.
Baillairgé married in 1750 and was involved in construction on the church at Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière
La Pocatière, Quebec
La Pocatière is a town in the Kamouraska Regional County Municipality within the Bas-Saint-Laurent region of Quebec.A Bombardier plant which manufactures subway and railway cars is located there. Educational institutions include the Collège de Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière and the Cégep de La Pocatière...
where he and his wife had moved. They returned to Quebec City after this and he formed a partnership which developed a good reputation. He was a member of the militia during the Seven Years’ War and fought on the Plains of Abraham
Plains of Abraham
The Plains of Abraham is a historic area within The Battlefields Park in Quebec City, Quebec, that was originally grazing land, but became famous as the site of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, which took place on 13 September 1759. Though written into the history books, housing and minor...
.
Works
In 1766, Baillairgé, competed for the reconstruction of Notre-Dame Basilica-Cathedral (Quebec City), which had been burned during the war, for the Roman Catholic diocese of QuebecRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Quebec
The Archdiocese of Québec is the oldest Catholic see in the New World north of Mexico. The archdiocese was founded as the Apostolic Vicariate of New France in 1658 and was elevated to a Diocese in 1674 and an Archdiocese in 1819...
. His plan was ultimately rejected with the new bishop, Jean-Olivier Briand
Jean-Olivier Briand
Jean-Olivier Briand was the Bishop of the Roman Catholic diocese of Quebec from 1766 to 1784.He was ordained as a priest in 1739 and left for Canada in 1741 with another priest, Abbé René-Jean Allenou de Lavillangevin and the newly appointed bishop of Quebec, Henri-Marie Dubreil de Pontbriand, in...
, siding with those opposed to his design. He threatened to leave the province but a successful proposal for the cathedral belfry in 1770 set his career on a solid footing. The remainder of his career had various church constructions as its focal point and the importance of his work Quebec to art and architecture was a product of that time.
Significance
Jean Baillairgé holds an important position in the history of art and architecture in Quebec after the Conquest. Perhaps more important than his work was the Baillairgé dynasty which he founded and which has had a prominent role in this area of Quebec art and architectural history. His son, François BaillairgéFrançois Baillairgé
François Baillairgé was an architect who also pursued painting and wood sculpture.The son of Jean Baillairgé, François began an apprenticeship in his father's shop at the age of 14. There he studied and practised woodworking, wood-carving, and architecture. His brother, Pierre-Florent, was also...
, worked with his father and continued the family contribution to art and architecture. Another son, Pierre-Florent
Pierre-Florent Baillairgé
Pierre-Florent Baillairgé, , was from Quebec, the son of Jean Baillairgé, and did spend some time in the wood carving and joinery end of his father's business...
, contributed significantly as a carver and joiner.