Tourists in Quebec: Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Qúebec

Thanks to my brother and sister-in-law, my husband and I were able to spend several days in Quebec City. Of course, we had to visit the National Museum of Fine Arts of Quebec. The museum is housed in three buildings, built in different styles in different periods. The original home of the museum is the neoclassical Gérard Morisset building, inaugurated in 1933.




The Gérard Morisset building was designed by architect Wilfrid Lacroix and the reliefs on the facade were sculpted by Émile Brunet. I do not know who designed the metalwork of these side doors or even if they were part of the original building, but I think they're magnificent.




The original museum was built only 100 meters away from a prison which had been standing there since 1867. In 1991, after much renovation, the old Quebec City Prison was inaugurated as part of the museum. It is named the Charles Baillargé building, after the architect-engineer-surveyor who designed the prison.




The museum kept a few of the prison cells intact, to show what prison life was like in the 19th century. The cells are tiny, with barely enough room for a narrow cot, a pail and a bowl.




Also inaugurated in 1991, the granite and glass Grand Hall serves as the museum's reception area and connects the two older buildings. The sculpture in front is by Québécois artist Jean-Pierre Morin titled "Trombe" (Waterspout). I've just discovered that it's for sale, in case any of you are interested.




The funky skylight and plant-topped roof of the Grand Hall is best appreciated from the tower of the prison.




The Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Qúebec is located on the Plains of Abraham, overlooking the St. Lawrence River. It was the site of a 1759 battle between the British and the French, pivotal for deciding the fate of North America during the Seven Years' War.




The Plains of Abraham were named not after the biblical figure but after the man who lived near the field and used it for grazing his livestock. It is also known as Battlefields Park.




Oh, and in case you're wondering why I don't have pictures of the artwork inside the museum, photography isn't allowed.