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Virtual visit of the Centre Catherine-de-Saint-Augustin

 

THE CHURCH OF THE MONASTÈRE DES AUGUSTINES DE L’HÔTEL-DIEU DE QUÉBEC

 

A PLACE OF HISTORY, ART AND PRAYER

The Church of the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec monastery was built between 1800 and 1803, thanks to the generosity of craftsmen and materials recovered from torn-down buildings, including the Palais de l'Intendant. Pierre Émond (1738-1808), master woodworker and sculptor, led the construction work. The current appearance of the façade is the result of modifications made by the architect Thomas Baillairgé (1791-1859) in 1839. The bell tower that had crowned the monastery from 1756 was placed on the pinnacle of the sacristy in 1810, and then at the top of the façade in 1931.

At the instigation of the Vicar General, Jérôme Demers (1774-1853), the Augustinian Sisters asked Thomas Baillairgé to redesign the interior of the church. In 1829, he developed plans for a new decor that included, among other things, the false vault and the altarpieces of the choir and the chapels. Completed in 1832, this is one of the rare decors where Baillargé himself worked as a sculptor. In 1833-1834, Baillairgé also crafted the tabernacle of the main altar that rests on the roman-style tomb made in 1803 by one of the sculptors of l'atelier des Écores. The side altars were designed by Baillergé and crafted between 1845 and 1850 by one of his students, Raphaël Giroux (1815-1869).

The Church of the Augustine Sisters of l'Hôtel-Dieu-de-Québec was classified as cultural heritage in 1961, along with 33 of its moveable goods.

 

Adapted from: Répertoire du patrimoine culturel du Québec, Ministry of Culture and Communications of Quebec

 

SIDE ALTAR ON THE RIGHT

Shrine: Noël Levasseur (1680-1740), master sculptor, relics and tomb of Marie-Catherine-de-Saint-Augustin (1717)
Reliquary bust: Charles de Poilly (1620-1665), goldsmith, relics of Saint-Jean-de-Brébeuf (1664)
Altar of Saint Anthony: Raphaël Giroux (1815-1869), sculptor and architect, (1846)
Sculpture: Benoi Deschênes (1943-), sculptor, Marie-Catherine-de-Saint-Augustin, (1990)
Sculpture: Saint Joseph, plaster and gold-leaf, gift from a number of benefactors (1895)

 

SIDE ALTAR ON THE LEFT

Altar of the Virgin Mary: Raphaël Giroux (1815-1869), sculptor and architect, (1846)
Sculpture: Notre-Dame de Toutes-Grâces, (Our Lady of All Graces) received after sailors made a vow and were saved from shipwreck. (1738) [2]
Painting above the altar: François-Guillaume Ménageot (1744-1816), painter, Vision de Ste-Thérèse, (Vision of Saint Theresa) recovered after the French revolution (1785)

 

SANCTUARY

Sanctuary Lamp: Claude Boursier (17th century), silversmith, gift from Daniel de Rémy de Courcelle, 8th Governor of New France (1665)
Sanctuary chandeliers: Bohemian crystal
Pulpit: Thomas Baillairgé (1791-1859), architect and sculptor, (1829-1832)
Christ on the cross: Wooden sculpture bought in France (1734). Fleur-de-lis and inscription (1832)
Antechoir: place of prayer for hospital patients
Painting above the pulpit: Louis Dulongpré (1759-1843), painter, series on the twelve apostles, Saint Luke (1794-1836)