Our day was spent meeting historical figures who were a part of the fabric of Québec, each either leaving a mark on the Ville or having the Ville leave a mark on them.
We stumbled upon this house whose plaque taught us that it was here that Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1900-1944) recuperated between tours of military duty. The French aviator and writer was invited to stay in the home of Charles de Koninck, a philosophy professor at Laval University. Saint-Exupéry spent most of his time with the professor’s children, in particular, 8-year-old Thomas. The following year, the author published one of the most famous books of all time, The Little Prince. It tells the story about a boy who seems to have a great deal in common with the young de Koninck. Neither Steve or I have read it so we checked it out from the Morrin Centre's amazing English library. What a great read. Wow.%20(Medium).jpg)
This stone building, with a rounded façade, housed the main photography business for three generations. Jules-Isaïe Benoît dit Livernois founded his first photography studio here in 1854. This technology, still in its infancy, was invented 15 years earlier, but it was already very popular with the people of Québec.
In 1865, Jules-Isaïe Livernois died prematurely at the age of 34. His widow Élise took over. Since the opening of the first studio, she had been an integral member of the company, handling the camera and developing prints in the darkroom.Her son, Jules-Ernest Livernois, took charge of the family business in 1873. He set up his studio and residence in this vast building particularly well suited to photography in 1889. He became the most prominent photographer in Quebec. The artistic touch that he instilled in his landscape photos earned him several commissions, notably from the Ministry of Public Works of Quebec and railway companies. He documented the construction of parliament, the inauguration of Dufferin Terrace and the opening of several new railway lines. His landscapes served to promote the colonization of this region; his photographs of major resort hotels were used for advertising purposes.
The grandson of the original photographer, also named Jules Livernois, took over from his father, Jules-Ernest, in 1898. In addition to the studio, he took care of the pharmacy established, by his father, on the ground floor of the building. Under the direction of Jules Livernois, the company continued to dominate the photography market in Québec. He received major commissions, including covering the city's tercentenary celebrations in 1908. But when he died in 1952, the Livernois' good years were behind them, even if the studio was still in business. The more than century-old company closed its doors in 1974.
Today, the monumental archives built up over the decades by the three generations of Livernois (300,000 images) is a heritage collection of incredible wealth and a photographic history of spectacular Québec.“Photography is a way of feeling,
of touching, of loving.
What you have caught on film is captured forever…
It remembers little things,
long after you have forgotten everything.”
-Aaron Siskind
Small streets, turned upon just for fun, exposed even more architectural beauty.This very distinct house, with blackened stone was built in 1888 and was, at one time, the home of the Marchioness of Bassano. Born in Québec City, Clara Symes was orphaned but left with a great deal of money. She was raised well by an aunt, and educated by the Ursulines. While traveling in London in 1872, Clara was presented to the young Marquis de Bassano. Some time later, he proposed to her. She brought him beauty and fortune. He gave her nobility and glory. Clara Symes became the Marchioness of Bassano at the age of 27. Their life was one of travel but she always remained attached to her hometown and this was one of her residences here.
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Our last stop was yet another set of stairs, Escalier de la Terrasse. We're on our way to being ready for the Québec City Staircase Challenge, an annual race using all 30 staircases that connect Upper and Lower Towns. Participants alternate between climbing up one staircase and climbing down the next one. There are 3,000 steps in total. It’s a great way to see the city, feel competitive, and get some exercise. Hmmm...
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2 comments:
I want to see the inside of the narrowest house.
The Little Prince; a very dear book
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