Emile Nelphas Prevost. Sculptor. Wood carver. Fassett, Quebec. Active mid 20th century.

Born in Saint-Andre-d’Avellin, he was famous for his carved and painted violins and highly carved violin cases. He also carved animals and birds in paint (‘as found’ colors) and varnished. Nelphas Prevost started carving in his spare time in the woods where he worked as a lumberjack. He made his first violin for his father-in-law in the 1930’s when he and his wife were living on the family farm. Nelphas himself was an accomplished fiddle player.  Nelphas Prevost’s work  has been collected and published by the Canadian Museum of History and is in many private collections. Most of his work was not signed.

A carving of a Bird by Nelphas Prevost:

A carving of a Bird by Nelphas Prevost

Some background on Nelphas Prevost can be found here (Can. Museum of History):

http://collections.historymuseum.ca/public/pages/cmccpublic/emupublic/Display.php?irn=71306&QueryPage=%2Fpublic%2Fpages%2Fcmccpublic%2Femupublic%2FQuery.php&lang=0

Philippe Roy. Sculptor. Wood carver. Saint-Philemon. Quebec. Active mid-20th century.

Philippe Roy carved animals, birds, religious scenes and historical figures. He carved in Pine and had a bright and extensive pallet using ‘as found’ colors. He was most active from the 1950’s to the late 1970’s. He is one of the more popular and sought after Quebec folk artists. His work is highly impressionistic and full of humor.

Ref: Jean Simard, Pour Passer Le Temps: Artistes Populaires Du Quebec, Gouvernement du Quebec, Ministere des Affaires Culturelles. 1985.

Andre Pelletier. Sculptor. Woodcarver. Quebec. Saint-Jean-Port-Joli. Active 1980’s  -.

Andre Pelletier learned woodcarving at the studio of Jean-Julien Bourgault in Saint-Jean-Port-Joli.  Carvings of people  engaged in traditional professions and activities were a specialty of this artist.

In 2003, Andre Pelletier was commissioned to make the Nativity scene for St. Peter’s Lutheran church in Ottawa, Ontario. (Images are shown below.) He has created a number of these creches; in Canada, France and the United States.

Andre Pelletier. The Creche:

Creche by Andre Pelletier. 2003.

Creche by Andre Pelletier. 2003.

Andre Pelletier carving of a Gold Miner:

Andre Pelletier. Gold Miner.

One of the marks of Andre Pelletier:

Andre Pelletier. His Mark.

A carving of  the ‘New Year’s Blessing’ by Andre Pelletier:

André Pelletier. Lac-Etchemin, Quebec.

Ernerst Belanger. Sculptor. Wood carver. Anse Pleureuse, Gaspe, Quebec. Active mid to late 20th century.

Ernest Belanger was a fisherman in season and in the summer his work could be found for sale along the Gaspe shore; at his house and in shops. A primitive artist; he made carvings of boats, fish, birds and domestic farm animals. He used ‘as found’ materials and colours and his carvings were full of imagination and colour.

Ref: Adrien Levasseur. Website. And:  Sculpteurs en Art Populaire au Quebec, Editions GID, Quebec. 2012.

R. Courtney. Sculptor. Quebec. Montreal area. Active mid-20th Century. (Possibly Eastern Townships? More information is needed for this artist.)

Maker of a naive carving of a Sleigh pulled by a black horse with two dressed figures; a man and a woman with a muff. Signed on the base: R. Courtney. Circa 1970.

Carving of a Sleigh by R. Courtney:

Seigh by R. Courtney. Montreal area Quebec. 1960’s.

Detail of the Mark:

Detail of Mark. R. Courtney.