Jean-Julien Bourgault. Sculptor. Wood carver. Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, Quebec. Active mid to late 20th century.

Invited into Medard Bourgault’s studio in 1931, Jean-Julien gradually became focused on religious works and studio carvings. Unlike Medard who specialized in religious works,  J. J. Bourgault’s range was always varied. He became known for his large relief carvings of traditional Quebec scenes such as farmers in their fields and in the bush. (One of the most impressive carvings that I have seen by Jean-Julien Bourgault, is a seated carving of the Buddha, in Butternut. About 44 inches high, it was carved in the early 1960’s.)

An image of Jean-Julien Bourgault with his sister Yvonne. At work in St-Jean-Port-Joli in the late 1930’s. From the Gauvreau Book (Artisans du Quebec, Les Editions du Bien Public, 1940.):

Jean-Julien and Yvonne Bourgault From Gauvreau.

There were many sculptors and wood carvers working in Quebec who were members of the  Saint-Jean-Port-Joli family of Bourgaults. Both male and female. There were siblings of the original three brothers,as well as nieces and nephews, the children of the three brothers  and cousins. And also we mustn’t forget their ancestors. The work of Medard, Andre and Jean-Julien is saturated with old skills and memories.

” Capt. Tilou”. A relief carving by J.J. Bourgault. 1981:

Jean-Julien Bourgault. Relief carving Capt. Tilou. 1981.

His mark:

J. j. Bourgault. His mark.

Shown here are two exceptional figural carvings by Jean-Julien Bourgault. Note the faces of the couple.

Wood carvings of a Quebec Man and Woman by Jean-Julien Bourgault. 1950’s:

jean-julien-bourgault-carvings-of-a-quebec-man-and-woman-c-1950

The mark of Jean-J. Bourgault. In script:

The mark of Jean Julien Bourgault in script.

A close-up of the carved faces by J.-J. Bourgault:

A detail of a carving of a man by J.J. Bourgault. Early 1950’s.

The Woman:

A detail of the Woman’s face by J. J. Bourgault. Early 1950’s.

Ref:https://www.lattisee.com/actualites/view/1451

A link to and article about the 2017 Exhibition of Jean-Julien Bourgault’s life and works.

Ref: Bourgault, Jean-Julien – Répertoire du patrimoine culturel du Québec (gouv.qc.ca)

A link to an article about Jean-Julien Bourgault on the Quebec Directory of Cultural Heritage.

Andre Bourgault. Sculptor. Woodcarver. Painter. Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, Quebec. Active mid-20th Century.

Andre Bourgault worked in his youth as a sailor, lumberjack and  woodworker. He began carving in 1929 and in 1932 was invited by his older brother Medard to join the studio that he had established in the village of Saint-Jean-Port-Joli. By 1935 Andre  had his own workshop. Working with Andre were the two nephews Alphonse and Leon Toussaint. As his brothers, Medard and Jean-Julien became focused on religous themes and studio work, Andre Bourgault became the only one of the three brothers working in “l’art strictement paysan” (‘strictly folk art’).  Eventually, Andre Bourgault taught flat plane carving in his own studio workshops and there were many carvers over the years producing their own wood carvings under the studio imprint. There can be some confusion over which artist actually made a work with the stamp: ‘l’atelier Andre Bourgault’.

Andre Bourgault signed all of his his own work. He signed with a chisel on the larger pieces, and often used a pen to sign the smaller painted carvings (look for the signature on the back of the base of the carving, behind the heels of the figure). Those works stamped on the base: “Atelier Andre Bourgault” were never made by him; but by a student worker. Here is an example. “Eleve” is the french word for student:

The ‘Eleve’ mark on the base of a Bourgault carving.

All three Bourgault brothers seemed to carve their figures from life. The faces of the people that they carved were always different, and the expressions were always recognizable. They could be very haunting; something not easy to achieve in a carving perhaps two or three inches tall.

Andre Bourgault also painted. Seen: a ‘Massicotte’ scene of a farm worker plowing with a team of oxen. Oil on board in ‘as found’ colors (see photo below).

An image from the Gauvreau Book (Artisans du Quebec, les Editions du Bien Public, 1940): Andre, Jean-Julien and Medard Bourgault at their studio in St-Jean-Port-Joli, Quebec in the late 1930’s:

Medard Andre Jean-Julien Bourgault from the Gauvreault Book

Here is an example of his mid-career work. In Basswood, about 11 inches long and signed with a chisel. c. 1940:

Checker Players by Andre Bourgault.

An example of his earlier work. The head of a woman; a very fine wood sculpture.:

Andre Bourgault: Head of a Woman

Plowing with oxen. Andre Bourgault. Oil on Panel. ( 1930’s):

Andre Bourgault. Oil on panel. 1930’s.

Carving of a Women. 1930’s. With his mark.:

Carving of a Woman. 1930’s. Andre Bourgault. Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, Quebec. Private collection.

The mark on the base in script:

Andre Bourgault mark in script.

A very fine example by Andre Bourgault. C. 1950:

Showing his range of expression.

Detail of a Woman Dancing by Andre Bourgault. c.1950

Andre Bourgault working alone on a carving of The Stump Pulling:

Andre Bourgault. At work on The Stump Pulling.

A Pair of Quebec Figures by Andre Bourgault. (McCord Museum Website):

http://www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/scripts/search_results.php?Lang=2&artist=00026

Medard Bourgault. Sculptor. Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, Quebec. Active mid-20th century.

The eldest of the three Bourgault brothers (Andre and Jean-Julien were the two younger ones) who all became sculptors. Medard worked as a sailor for some years, was well traveled in Europe and Africa and left the sea in 1918 to begin carving. By 1927 he was carving full time. In 1929, he began the school of wood carving in St-Jean-Port-Joli. He was strongly encouraged by The Canadian Handicrafts Guild and Marius Barbeau, among others.

The Bourgaults were always a family of woodworkers; both cabinet makers and carvers. One of their ancestors, Amable Charron, had made the sculptures in the Village church.  Medard made all varieties of wood carvings (reliefs as well as figures in the round) for sale as souvenir pieces and for the Guild stores.  As his skill grew Medard Bourgault’s focus was on religious work only.  The school was established in Medard and Jean-Julien’s workshop in 1940. Medard Bourgault worked in Basswood and signed with a chisel.

An image from the Gauvreau Book (Artisans du Quebec, Les Editions du Bien Public, 1940.): Medard Bourgault in front of his studio in St-Jean-Port-Joli, Quebec.

Medard Bourgault in front of his Studio from the Gauvreau Book

A detail of a carving by Medard Bourgault. C. 1950.:

Detail of a carving by Medard Bourgault. St. Jean Port Joli, Quebec. C. 1950.

Medard Bourgault. A Head of Christ:

Medard Bourgault. St-Jean-Port-Joli, Que. Carving of the Head of Christ. Signed and dated 1945.

Ref:http://ethnologiequebec.org/2017/08/venez-feter-avec-les-heritiers-du-maitre-sculpteur-medard-bourgault-le-samedi-16-septembre-a-saint-jean-port-joli/

A link to the website of Ethnology-Quebec. En Francais.

Ref: Bourgault, Médard – Répertoire du patrimoine culturel du Québec (gouv.qc.ca)

A link to an article on Medard Bourgault on the Quebec Cultural Heritage web site.

Leo (Leopold) Morissette. Sculptor. Woodcarver Joliette, Quebec. Active 1960’s-1980.

Leo Morrisette carved the woodland animals of Quebec as well as relief carvings often of famous people. Shown is a painted and varnished carving of a squirrel signed and dated 1978.

Leo Morissette. Carving of a Squirrel:

L. Morrisette Squirrel. 1978.

Mark on the Squirrel:

Leo Morissette. His Mark.

An example of his Mark:

Leo Morissette. Joliette, Quebec.

R. F. Fabric Artist. Hooked Rug Maker.  Charlevoix county, Quebec. Active mid 20th century.

These initials are occasionally found on ornamental hooked mats in Charlevoix County. These mats are hooked with fine wool rag on burlap.  They are ornamental mats that are mounted and displayed on a wall. Charlevoix County. C. 1950.