Rene Lavoie

Rene Lavoie. Sculptor. Wood carver. Baie-Saint-Paul.  Quebec. Active early to mid-20th Century.

Rene Lavoie was a sculptor of scenes from daily life in Quebec.  His carvings are full of expression and detail. And always beautifully coloured. He made carvings of people at work on the farm; in the round and  in shadow boxes as well as carvings of  animals and birds. All in wonderful color. He signed his work; sometimes by in script and sometimes with various stamps in ink. One of his marks is shown below.

He was born in Baie-Saint-Paul where he first began carving and showing his work. He established a workshop and gallery in 1944 in Pointe-au-Pic and in the late 1940’s moved to the Cote-de-Beaupre and opened a shop in Chateau-Richer.  He also had a shop in Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre where he showed his work in front of the gallery. There were often life-sized, painted carvings of people shown; carvings that sold for $200 and more. (See the image below of his studio in Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre near Quebec City.)

Rene Lavoie also was known to have made violins and mandolins  (he played these instruments himself). He had, at one point, galleries in Baie-Saint-Paul, Pointe-au-Pic, Chateau-Richer and Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre. He also sold his work through the art departments of Eatons and Simpsons stores. Rene Lavoie died in his 50th year.

A carving of a woman at an outdoor bread oven in Quebec:

Rene Lavoie. His mark:

Another detail. The figure is missing the paddle to remove the loaves:

 

A Couple. Rene Lavoie. 1930’s:

 

Rene Lavoie. A photograph of his studio and shop:

 

The Shop of Rene Lavoie in Ste-Anne-de-Beaupre, Que:

 

 

A link to the Canadian Museum of Civilization website and one of his works:

http://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/tresors/treasure/107eng.shtml

Ref: Mathieu Tremblay. (2006)