Reg Filion. Painter. Montreal, Quebec. Active  mid 20th century.

A primitive oil painting of a log house on a river bank in ‘as found’ colors. Found in the Montreal area and signed in the lower right: “Reg Filion, ’45”.

Reg Filion. Painting on board:

 

 

There were many sculptors and wood carvers working in St-Jean-Port-Joli, Quebec who were members of the  families of the three primary Bourgault brothers; Medard, Jean-Julien and Andre. Both male artists and  female artists. There were siblings of the original three brothers,as well as nieces and nephews and 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 older inherited skills and memories. (Look in the general Artist Index for separate articles on the family members.)

Harmonie Bourgault. Sculptor. A cousin of the Father of the three brothers. He was known to have carved the Calvary at St.Pamphile-de-L’islet. (“Carved in the Medieval manner”. I was unable to find any images of it unfortunately.)

Alphonse Bourgault. B. 1890? Alphonse Bourgault was an older brother of Medard, Andre and Jean-Julien. He was a Sculptor and a Model Ship builder.

Andre Bourgault. (1898-1958) Sculptor.

Jean-Julien Bourgault. (1910-1996) Sculptor.

Medard Bourgault. (1897-1967) Sculptor.

Antonio Bourgault.  A sculptor and a Model Ship carver, he was an older brother of the three.  Both Antonio and Alphonse were lighthouse keepers and also worked in the studio of Medard Bourgault.

Yvonne Bourgault.  (B.1900?) Sculptor. Sister of the brothers. She was a colorist and a specialist in the smaller, delicate work. She worked with Medard in his studio. She also made shadow boxes. Occasionally, beautiful painted figures are found with her mark.

Alphonse Toussaint. Sculptor. (See photo below) See Separate article on Alphonse Toussaint.

Leon Toussaint. Sculptor. Both Alphonse and Leon Toussaint were nephews and worked in Andre Bourgault’s studio. See separate article.

Cecile B. Toussaint. Sculptor. I believe that the ‘B’ in her mark is for ‘Bourgault’ and that she was a niece of the three brothers – working in the studio of Andre Bourgault.  Signed works are occasionally found by her. See separate article.

Lucien Bourgault.  (B. 1922.)  An accomplished sculptor and nephew of the three brothers. He was the son of Antonio Bourgault.

Jeannette Bourgault.  (1925-2010) Sculptor. Daughter of Medard Bourgault.

Celine Bourgault. Sculptor. She carved beautiful shadow boxes showing  the interior of houses and shops. They were sometimes covered with a celluloid window – complete with small sash bars – to give the impression of looking into the room from the outside. Very occasionally signed pieces by her are found. I have seen one signed Celine Bourgault and also one signed ‘Celine’ only.

Fernand Bourgault. (1932-)   Sculptor.  Son of Medard Bourgault.

Jacques Bourgault. (1940-). Sculptor. Son of Medard Bourgault.

Roger Bourgault. Sculptor. (1938-2008) Son of Andre.

J. P. Bourgault. Sculptor. Nephew. (?)

Gilles Bourgault. ‘Gils’ (1937-2005) Sculptor. Son of Jean-Julien Bourgault.

Jean-Raymond Bourgault. Sculptor. (1924-2010) Son of Medard. One of the most talented of the Bourgault family of artists.

Joseph Bourgault. Sculptor. Active 1930-1935. (?)

Gil Bourgault   (1937-2005) Sculptor. Son of J. J. Bourgault and Antoinette Caron.

Carmelle Bourgault.  Sculptor. Active 1950’s. Daughter of Medard.

Michelle Bourgault.  Born 1941. Known to have worked in the studio as a colorist; painting the wood carvings.

Jannine Bourgault  (1930-) Active 1970’s ?  Relation unknown yet.

C. H. Bourgault Seen: a Crucifix. The cross made of twigs and the Corpus well carved. Signed: C. H. Bourgault. Relation unknown.

Andre Medard Bourgault. Son of Medard Bourgault.   His work was exceptionally well carved.

Paul-Yvan Bourgault.  (B. 1956.) An academically trained sculptor.

 

Some Typical Carvings from the Bourgault Studios by Family Members:

A Shadow Box of a Tavern. Unsigned.  (1930’s-1940’s):

 

Two Book Marks. Signed: Alphonse Toussaint Bourgault:

The Mark of Alphonse Toussaint Bourgault:

 

 

From La Dictionnaire des Artistes de Langue Francais en Amerique du Nord:

https://books.google.ca/books?id=xojsRTC5ttcC&lpg=PA116&ots=KJ3xPJQFqc&dq=alphonse%20toussaint%20bourgault&pg=PA116#v=onepage&q=alphonse%20toussaint%20bourgault&f=true

 

Ref: Artisans du Quebec. Jean-Marie Gauvreau, Les Editions du Bien Public, Montreal, Quebec,1940.

Ref: Along Quebec Highways. Tourist guide. Department of Highways and Mines. Quebec. 1930. Pictures and maps of Quebec at that time.

Ref: Marius Barbeau,  Maîtres artisans de chez-nous. Montréal: Zodiaque. (1942).

Ref: Le Guide des Artisans Createurs du Quebec. J. P. Payette, Editions La Press, 1972.

Ref:Association des Artisans St-Jean Port-Joli, Compagne  Rothmans de Pall Mall Canada Limitée.1973.

Ref: Gens de Bois. Woodenfolk. St-Jean-Port-Joli. Les editions Port Joli, 1975.

Ref: Cyril Simard, Artinasat Quebecois. Montreal Les Editions de l’Homme. 1975.

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.):

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:

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:

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

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

The Woman:

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:

 

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:

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

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

The mark on the base in script:

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

Showing his range of expression.

Andre Bourgault working alone on a carving of 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.

 

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

Medard Bourgault. A Head of Christ:

 

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.