Élise L'Heureux

L'Heureux contributed to documentary photography in the 19th century through her portraits of residents and landscapes of Quebec. She managed her own photography company after her husband died.

• Name — Élise L'Heureux • Born — 27 January 1827 • Died — 1896 • Place of death — Quebec City, Canada • Known for — Photography

Élise L'Heureux married Jules-Isaïe Benoît (dit Livernois) in 1849. The couple established their daguerreotype studio in 1854 in the home of L'Heureux's parents. This business later expanded to include three studios specializing in portraits. L'Heureux took over the business after her husband died of tuberculosis in 1865. A year later she partnered with her son-in-law Louis Bienvenu, creating the Livernois and Bienvenu photography studio. Élise and Jules-Isaïe had six childrenfour daughters and two sons, including son Jules-Ernest (commonly known as Jules-Ernest Livernois), born on August 19, 1851, in Saint-Zéphirin-de-Courval, Quebec. He followed in his parents' footsteps, traveling throughout Quebec taking landscape photos and outdoor group portraits. In 1989, Jules-Ernest was one of four 19th-century Canadian photographers to be commemorated in the Canadian Photography series, marking the 150th anniversary of the first photograph taken in Canada, with a postage stamp issued by Canada Post.

• Illustration — The Livernois studio in Quebec City L'Heureux began her career in photography in 1856. She specialized in portraits of children from 1857 to 1858. The business expanded to include three studios. After she and Bienvenu entered into their partnership, the business expanded to include cartes de visite and landscapes in addition to portraits. Many of the studio's works are now owned by the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec. The studio had its works featured in L'Opinion publique and Canadian Illustrated News. The partnership with Bienvenu was dissolved in April 1873. Jules Livernois took over the studio until 1952. It went bankrupt in 1979.

• L'Heureux's first exhibition was at the Nouvelle Galerie Historique in January 1866. A subsequent exhibition was held in July 1867 and featured a collection of portraits of celebrities. • L'Heureux's work is on display at the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, Library and Archives Canada, and the Canadian Women Artists History Initiative Documentation Centre in Quebec.

L'Heureux died in Quebec City in January 1896.

The following is established of origins and background. Élise L'Heureux was born in 1827 at Quebec City. It is also recorded that élise L'Heureux died in 1896 at Quebec City.

The following works and productions are recorded by name or by count. Élise L'Heureux is recorded with the occupation photographer. It is also recorded that élise L'Heureux is recorded with the occupation shopkeeper. Institutional cataloguing adds that élise L'Heureux is recorded with the occupation businessperson. The register further records that élise L'Heureux is recorded as a citizen of Canada. Élise L'Heureux is recorded as a citizen of Lower Canada. It is also recorded that élise L'Heureux is recorded with the gender female. Élise L'Heureux was born on 22 January 1827. Élise L'Heureux is recorded as human. Élise L'Heureux was born in Quebec City. Institutional cataloguing adds that élise L'Heureux died on 17 January 1896.