Victor Bourgeau
Victor Bourgeau was born on September 26, 1809 in Lavaltrie, Canada. He was a very talented man with many skills such as carpentry, woodcarving, and architecture. Bourgeau started working at an early age in his father’s business. He was an apprentice joiner and carpenter to his uncle. His first known works were executed in 1839 at Boucherville, where he received payment for the completion of altar carvings and other embellishments. Unfortunately these carvings were destroyed when the church of Sainte-Famille burned down in 1843.
Some of Bourgeau’s more famous and well known pieces of work were his accomplishments in the church of Notre-Dame in Montreal. He created the pulpit, which was much lauded by his contemporaries and was described by his biographer as “a little masterpiece of elegance and strength.”
After 1847 Bourgeau entered seriously upon his long and fruitful career as an architect. He had come to Montreal in the 1830’s in time to witness important architectural developments, which were increasingly influenced by neo-classical and neo-Gothic styles. Which helped him a lot along his journey to becoming an influential architect. Several facts suggest that Bourgeau received his training under John Ostell. Ostell was an immediate predecessor in the field of religious architecture. After 1850 Bourgeau finished some of the work undertaken by Ostell, who had embarked on a business career, and took over his responsibilities in relation to the diocese and the religious communities.
Some of Bourgeau’s more famous and well known pieces of work were his accomplishments in the church of Notre-Dame in Montreal. He created the pulpit, which was much lauded by his contemporaries and was described by his biographer as “a little masterpiece of elegance and strength.”
After 1847 Bourgeau entered seriously upon his long and fruitful career as an architect. He had come to Montreal in the 1830’s in time to witness important architectural developments, which were increasingly influenced by neo-classical and neo-Gothic styles. Which helped him a lot along his journey to becoming an influential architect. Several facts suggest that Bourgeau received his training under John Ostell. Ostell was an immediate predecessor in the field of religious architecture. After 1850 Bourgeau finished some of the work undertaken by Ostell, who had embarked on a business career, and took over his responsibilities in relation to the diocese and the religious communities.
In 1849, when he was beginning to establish himself as an architect, the important project of enlarging the church of Sainte-Anne at Varennes gave Bourgeau an opportunity to display the general conformity to architectural tradition, which was one characteristic of his art. In 1850 the parish council of Sainte-Rose hired Bourgeau to build a new church. Here again, true to his architectural heritage, he constructed a neoclassical façade modeled on the church of Sainte-Geneviève at Pierrefonds. The church at Sainte-Rose, Bourgeau’s first large church he built, reveals also that he was sufficiently in command of his profession to be able to carry out major commissions and he used a technical approach which made a good impression on those who employed him.
Bourgeau’s success grew as he continued to draw up the plans for numerous buildings and to supervise the work on site. Research that is now going on will only make it possible to do justice to the talent and industry of this prolific architect, who designed about 100 buildings. After the church of Sainte-Rose Bourgeau prepared the plans for many buildings in which the influence of Thomas Baillaige’s is noticeable. The church of Saint Vincent de Paul now in the city of Laval is an example of this continuation of a late form of Neo style architecture.
Bourgeau died on March 1, 1888 while on his way to make a business call on the Sisters of Charity; he was 78. He had lost his first wife in 1877, and also his two children, one having died in infancy and the other when he was a young lawyer. Bourgeau’s contemporaries remembered “old Bourgeau” as a demanding and relentless worker who had become a legend at the building sites he inspected, while always wearing a top hat. The history of architecture is concerned more with religious buildings than with any other type, because in most past cultures the universal and exalted appeal of religion made the church or temple the most expressive, the most permanent, and the most influential building in any community. Bourgeau was able to influence many people, religions, and communities by his style of religious architecture, not just back in the 1800’s, but influence people now, and for years to come.
Bourgeau’s success grew as he continued to draw up the plans for numerous buildings and to supervise the work on site. Research that is now going on will only make it possible to do justice to the talent and industry of this prolific architect, who designed about 100 buildings. After the church of Sainte-Rose Bourgeau prepared the plans for many buildings in which the influence of Thomas Baillaige’s is noticeable. The church of Saint Vincent de Paul now in the city of Laval is an example of this continuation of a late form of Neo style architecture.
Bourgeau died on March 1, 1888 while on his way to make a business call on the Sisters of Charity; he was 78. He had lost his first wife in 1877, and also his two children, one having died in infancy and the other when he was a young lawyer. Bourgeau’s contemporaries remembered “old Bourgeau” as a demanding and relentless worker who had become a legend at the building sites he inspected, while always wearing a top hat. The history of architecture is concerned more with religious buildings than with any other type, because in most past cultures the universal and exalted appeal of religion made the church or temple the most expressive, the most permanent, and the most influential building in any community. Bourgeau was able to influence many people, religions, and communities by his style of religious architecture, not just back in the 1800’s, but influence people now, and for years to come.