Introduction
Ozias Leduc and religious art
From the very beginning of his career, Leduc gets to work on religious art projects. In Montreal, the young artist is hired as a painter of plaster statues at the Carli studio, apprentice of the mural painter Luigi Capello and assistant of Adolphe Rho.
Soon after, he receives his first commission for the decoration of the Church of Saint-Paul-l'Ermite. In 1892, he signs an important contract for the Saint-Charles-Borromée Cathedral in Joliette.
A true entrepreneur, Leduc sees to all stages of a project, by establishing the decorative and iconographic program with the parish authorities, estimating the costs and carrying out the project itself.
It's in 1896 that the artist undertakes the decoration project of the church of Saint-Hilaire, one of his greatest achievements. This project features large paintings illustrating the Seven Sacraments, the Four Evangelists, the Assumption of the Virgin, Saint-Hilaire de Poitiers, the Adoration of the Magi, the Ascension of Christ, as well as fourteen Stations of the Cross (inspired by Austrian painter and engraver Furik).
Leduc works on religious art projects partly for economic reasons in order to secure a steady income. Working conditions are sometimes difficult and creatively restrictive, taking their toll on the artist both physically and psychologically.
During his career, he decorated more than thirty churches and chapels. Out of these, only half remain. The Notre-Dame-de-la-Presentation church in Shawinigan was his last commission.
I am not an martyr of the art world. Everything was quite easy for me. During my life, work, discipline and persistent luck up to this day have been my collaborators. - Ozias Leduc
Location of churches
To access the locations chosen for this section, select a marker on the map and click on the link.
Churches location map