The women and men of the Enlightenment
(part two)

Born in Albigeois, Pierre de Sales Laterrière was a medical doctor and a committed chronicler of Québec society after the Conquest. He settled in Québec in 1766, First a clerk, then an inspector and finally director of the Forges du Saint-Maurice, he studied medicine at Harvard (Massachusetts). He practised medicine in the Trois-Rivières area before settling in Québec City. He led a colourful and adventurous life. In defiance of public opinion and the clergy, this free thinker lived common law with Marie-Catherine Delezenne for many years. He became seigneur of Les Éboulements towards the end of his life. He was a witness of the period through his correspondence, petitions and memoirs, written about 1812 and published after his death. His dress and wig date this portrait to about 1770-1790. His apparent age may be mislaying since his whole face has been repainted.

Anonymous, Pierre de Sales Laterrière (1743-1815), about 1770-1790, oil on canvas, 51,5 x 40,5 cm, Québec, Archives nationales du Québec, deposited at the Musée du Québec. Photo Musée du Québec.

Hertel de Rouville was among the first two French-Canadian judges to be named under the British regime, when the Québec Act (1774) was passed. He was disliked by the Canadians and Montréal's British supporters of the Thirteen colonies. By continually showing his loyalty to the Crown he soon got the reputation of being a sycophant and an informer. Among his many feats of arms against Québec's supporters of the Enlightenment, Rouville incarcerated the printer, Fleury Mesplet, the journalist, Valentin Jautard, and the pamphlet writer, Pierre du Calvet. He also played a part in putting Pierre de Sales Laterrière behind bars. His portrait was painted about 1769-1771 by the New York artist, John Mare, during his stay in Montréal. About twenty paintings are attributed to this minor travelling portraitist.

John Mare (1739-1795), René-Ovide Hertel de Rouville (1720-1792, about 1769-1771, oil on canvas, 65,6 x 53,5 cm, Montréal, McCord Museum of Canadian History, M966.62.2.

 

The daughter of the silversmith Ignace-François Delzenne, Marie Catherine was the long-time companion of Pierre de Sales Laterrière, whom she finally married after the death of her first husband in 1799. Her passion for Pierre made her defy public opinion and petition Judge Tonnancour and Governor Haldimand to free Laterrière, whom they had arrested after the American Invasion. She had to take care of family business while Laterrière was incarcerated (1779-1782), exiled in Newfoundland (1782-1783) and travelling through Europe from 1807 to 1808. This portrait was retouched at the beginning of the 20th century.

Anonymous, Marie-Catherine Delezenne (1755-1831), about 1780-1790, oil on canvas, 42 x 37 cm, Laterrière family collection.