|
I must say that going back to 1845 to find an artist was not an easy thing to do. My first contact with Jobin was through a newspaper article written by one of The Group of seven Artists. It seems he was in Quebec and came upon the studio that Louis had at Ste. Anne de Beau Pre in 1925 three years before his death. The second time I was fortunate enough to have the one and only book written about this carver written by Marius Barbeau author, lecturer and writer of over 35 books.
I had to wait until I got to the Musee du Quebec around 1969 before I got to see his collection that is in that Musee. I was never surprised at what I saw but could not put him into perspective at that time.
A visit to Ste. Anne de Beau Pre proved a nothing since his studio does not exist there anymore. When It was taken down and left unmarked is still an unknown to me.
It was while I was in Saint Romuald doing research on Laureat Valliere that I was able to find another of the last carvers in Canada. He knew Elzear Soucy as fellow carver who worked out of Montreal most of his life.
They have a fine book written about L. Jobin which I am not able to find in my library. It was stolen a few months ago.
In the book Les Arts Sacres au Quebec with photos by Francois Brault you can find works dating back to 1875. La Sainte Famille ,Monastere du Carmel, Montreal.
1878 =81 St. Jean L'evangetiste St. Henri de Levis, Quebec.
1891 St. Michel combatant l'heresie, Eglise St. Pascal de Kampuraska.
Also Ange a la trompette at the same Eglise. By 1902 another ange for St. Calixte Plessisville. 1905 Immaculate conception , Ste Mary de Beauce.
The last work is 1909 of St. George and the Dragon St. Georges Ouest.
There are Cigar Store Indians in wood done by Jobin plus the whole collection in the Quebec Musee. That you can enjoy if you get their book. I am so glad to be able to tell you this much about one of the sculptors I never got to meet but I feel I know him just the same. Other Wayside Calvaire are still in existence but I have not seen them. His work has been taken into the collections and collectors and I do not know who has them now.
|
|
