François Baillairgé (21 January 1759 – 15 September 1830) was an architect and artist with expertise in drawing, painting, carpentry, sculpture, and church decoration. Baillairgé was the first artist from Quebec City to complete his education at the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture in Paris, which he attended from 1779 to 1781.
Life The son of Jean Baillairgé, François began an apprenticeship in his father's shop at the age of 14. There he studied and practised woodworking, wood-carving, and architecture. His brother, Pierre-Florent, was also active as a carver and joiner in the business. He also studied at the Petit Séminaire de Québec and then studied in Paris for three years, returning to Lower Canada in 1781.Ver Petit Séminaire de Québec de la Wikipedia en francés His training in Paris gave him a strong foundation in painting, sculpture, and architecture.
Baillairgé and his father worked together on the interior adornment of the Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral. Their work included the altarpieces, baldachin, statue, throne, and altar.
A great deal of his work was in the field of painting, both religious and secular, and he was very prolific. He achieved a high level of success as a wood-carver, sculptor, and carpenter through the architectural projects he took on while working with his father's workshop.
Ballairgé's most notable client was Prince Edward Augustus, the father of Queen Victoria, for whom he sculpted a figurehead.
By 1815, he had introduced his son, Thomas, into the family business and they produced some substantial work together. François also produced many plans for a variety of clients in his work as an architect.
Works
BuildingYear CompletedLocationImage Morrin Centre, (former Quebec Prison) 1808 - 1813 Chaussée des Écossais (formerly St. Stanislas Street), Quebec City Notre-Dame Basilica, Montrealinterior decoration; choir 1785–95; facade & vault decoration, 1818; demolished, 1824MontrealQuebec Court House1799-1804; burned 1873St. Louis Street, Quebec CityChateau St. Louis1810-11; burned 1834Quebec CityFormer Trois-Rivières Prison1816-1822Trois-RivièresCongregationalist Chapel1818St. Joseph Street, Quebec CityÉglise Saint-Roch1811, burned 1816; rebuilt 1816–18; demolished 1914St. Joseph Street, Quebec CityGrand Allee, country residence for Joseph F. Perrault1812Quebec CityFinlay Market1816Quebec CityNotre-Dame-des-Victoires, Quebec City, remodeling of the facade and interior1816Place Royale, Quebec City Jesuit Chapel 1818Auteuil Street, Quebec City
References
External links Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online Quebec City Art & Artists: An Illustrated History by Michèle Grandbois.