July 12 2012
After 3 day’s of walking around Québec city and Ottawa, I took it a bit easy today (plus the heat wasn’t conducive to walking far) and only managed a visit to the sculpture of Marguerite Bourgeoys in Old Montreal.
Marguerite Bourgeoys (1620-1700) was the foundress of the Congregation de Notre Dame de Montréal. Having consecrated herself in 1640 to the service of god, in 1652 she was recruited by the founder of Montreal (Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve) to educate the French and Indian children in the new colony. In 1659 she began receiving girls (known as the filles du Roy) who were sent by the King of France to establish homes in Montreal and became a mother figure to them. She initiated a school system and a network of social services which gradually extended through the whole country, and which led people to refer to Marguerite as “Mother of the Colony”.
Another feat she is credited with was the restoration of the cross on Mount Royal after it was destroyed by hostile Indians. Bourgeoys also instigated the construction of Notre Dame de Bonsecours Chapel, which was begun in 1657 and completed in 1678. I plan visiting the chapel soon and getting some nice HDR shots inside – hopefully they will grant me permission to use a tripod.
The bronze sculpture (erected 1988) by Jules Lasalle is situated in a park named in her honor (Place Marguerite Bourgeoys) on rue Notre Dame located outside the Lucien Saulnier Building (opposite the Court of Appeal).
The following image was a handheld 3 exposure HDR with some tinting using Topaz Adjust.
Marguerite Bourgeoys sculpture by Jules Lasalle
ISO 100 – 18mm – f4 – 1/160 sec (-2ev/0/+2ev)
Marguerite Bourgeoys sculpture by Jules Lasalle
ISO 100 – 18mm – f4 – 1/100 sec (-2ev/0/+2ev)
Marguerite Bourgeoys sculpture by Jules Lasalle
ISO 100 – 42mm – f4.8 – 1/50 sec (-2ev/0/+2ev)
Marguerite Bourgeoys sculpture by Jules Lasalle
ISO 100 – 30mm – f4.2 – 1/25 sec (-2ev/0/+2ev)
Along with Maisonneuve and Jeanne-Mance, she is considered by many to be a co-founder of Montreal. In 1950 Pope Pius XII beatified Marguerite Bourgeoys. Pope John Paul II Canonizing her in 1982, giving the Canadian Church its first woman saint…Most certainly deserved I would say !
To view images in gallery format, simply click on one of the images below.
Thanks for stopping by. Until next time.
– Martin
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