Portraits of the Trottier called Desrivières couple illustrate an exceptional phenomenon of the art of this period. Sitting at a game table, Monsieur displays a gold chatelaine, gold and silver coins piled up near an Ace of Hearts and a remaining five-card hand. Madame is getting ready to serve tea just like the British, an increasingly popular socio-cultural ritual. This painting illustrates the complex artistic influences of the late-18th century. Born in Laprairie, Beaucourt was a successful candidate at Bordeaux Academy. He then travelled to Europe, the West Indies and the United States. He painted a Montreal society which also benefited from these influences.
François Beaucourt (1740-1794), Eustache-Ignace Trottier called Desrivières, 1793, oil on canvas pasted on masonite, 79,5 x 63,8 cm, Québec, Musée du Québec, 56.297. Photographic reproduction: Patrick Altman. |
François Beaucourt (1740-1794), Marguerite-Alexis Mailhot, wife of Eustache-Ignace Trottier called Desrivières, 1793, oil on canvas pasted on masonite, 79,9 x 64,1 cm, Québec, Musée du Québec, 56.298. Photographic reproduction: Patrick Altman. |
These six playing cards are older than Mr Trottier's portrait, but their style evolved very little during the period. Cards were used as money when cash was scarce in the 18th century.
Ace of Hearts, Jack of Hearts, Six of Diamonds, Five of Clubs, 18th century, printed on cardboard, about 8 x 5 cm, except Jack of Hearts 8,5 x 5,5 cm, Montréal, Macdonald Stewart Foundation, 83.22, nos 2, 4, 6, 10, 11 et 21. Photo Robert Derome.
The comedy by Joseph Quesnel (1746-1809), "Anglomania or a Dinner in the English Fashion", condemns a form of assimilation and snobbism among French Canadians. The Primembourg dowager ridiculed the teamania that colonel Beauchamp was trying to impose on the French-speaking elite:
With all that tea! Back in our French period
When all was well - did we drink as much?
Never; - except as a remedy, or for a migraine;
But English fashion dictates that it be taken
Morning and night, with neither the desire nor the need;
It is as if one would die if tea came to be missing;
Thus we see only pallid faces;
Sick stomachs, Lent faces;
Instead of the rosy complexion of olden days.
Behold the results of this nonsense![free translation of French]
Joseph Quesnel (1746-1809), "Anglomania or a Dinner in the English Fashion, One-Act Comedy in Verse [1802]" [free translation of French], La Barre du Jour, vol. 1, nos 3-5 (juillet-décembre 1965), p. 117-141.
