Nouvelle-France: Quebec

Nouvelle-France Dept: Although an exhibition showcasing some art forms in Quebec before the 20th century was organized for Pope John Paul II s visit in 1984, there has been nothing else remotely comparable to Les Arts en Nouvelle-France, which opened last August at Mus e national des beaux-arts du Qu bec in Quebec City, and which runs until Sept. 2, according to Montreal Gazette. New France was much larger than Quebec, as map etchings presented at the entrance to the exhibition hall make clear. Among them is Gilliaume de l Isle s 1703 map showing New France extending as far west as the Lake of the Woods region in Ontario, and down into the Mississippi River valley west of the American colonies. Scrawled across what is now Ontario and Quebec are the words Canada ou Nouvelle France, the ou or in English suggesting equal common use of both names at the time and for the first time, a major Canadian museum is staging an exhibition devoted exclusively to the full range of art in New France. It s a wonder that this hasn t been done before. When I went to see the exhibition early last month, I was lucky to have a special tour guide Daniel Drouin, the museum s curator of art dating before 1850, and co-curator of Les Arts en Nouvelle-France, along with art historian Laurier Lacroix of the Universit du Qu bec Montr al. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.