Bonsecours Market, St. Paul Street, about 1852, circa 1852

Mr. and Mrs. W. Bryan, Ottawa, since 1920s Claude Gugeon, Ottawa, 1989 Private Collection, Toronto A.K. Prakash & Associates, Inc., Toronto Acquired by the present Private Collection, April 2009

James Duncan (1806-1881), "Painter of Montreal", McCord Stewart Museum, Montreal, 2023 as "Bonsecours Market, St. Paul Street", about 1852

Laurier Lacroix and Suzanne Sauvage, "James Duncan (1806-1881), Painter of Montreal", Montreal, 2023, reproduced pages 138-139

Upon his arrival in Montreal in the summer of 1830, the Irish-born artist James Duncan became known for depicting his adopted city. Over the course of his fifty-year career, he made Montreal one of his primary subjects, portraying it from the foot of Mount Royal or from Île Sainte-Hélène through panoramic views or by detailing the customs of its inhabitants in their daily activities throughout the seasons. His keen observational talent is demonstrated through the precision of his drawing, the vibrancy of his palette, and his mastery of watercolour, as shown by the contrast in the treatment of the sky in relation to the street. This truly exceptional view combines both approaches by offering a broad perspective of St. Paul Street along with all the details of its bustling activity on a business day. The neoclassical elegance of the new Bonsecours Market (built in 1847) by architect William Footner competes with the vernacular architecture of the Bonsecours Chapel, rebuilt in 1773. In this setting, Duncan depicts the activities of a winter market in abundance. The movement of the horse-drawn carriages harmonizes with the vendors, shoppers, delivery workers, and woodcutters. Elegant signs adorn the façades and complete the atmosphere of this lively street. We extend our thanks to Laurier Lacroix, C.M., art historian, for researching this artwork and for contributing the preceding essay.