François Baillairgé

Thomas Baillairgé is recorded as having studied under François Baillairgé. The field of work recorded is architecture, painting and art of sculpture. Works named in the authority record are Old Trois-Rivières Prison and Morrin Centre. Work by François Baillairgé is recorded in the collections of National Gallery of Canada, Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, Musée de la civilisation and Musée d'art de Joliette.

• Name — François Baillairgé • Born — 21 January 1759 • Birthplace — Quebec • Died — 15 September 1830 • Place of death — Quebec • Education — apprenticed to Jean Baillairgé; Petit Séminaire de Québec

The son of Jean Baillairgé, François began an apprenticeship in his father's shop at the age of 14. There he studied and practised woodworking, wood-carving, and architecture. His brother, Pierre-Florent, was also active as a carver and joiner in the business. He also studied at the Petit Séminaire de Québec and then studied in Paris for three years, returning to Lower Canada in 1781. His training in Paris gave him a strong foundation in painting, sculpture, and architecture. Baillairgé and his father worked together on the interior adornment of the Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral. Their work included the altarpieces, baldachin, statue, throne, and altar. A great deal of his work was in the field of painting, both religious and secular, and he was very prolific. He achieved a high level of success as a wood-carver, sculptor, and carpenter through the architectural projects he took on while working with his father's workshop. Ballairgé's most notable client was Prince Edward Augustus, the father of Queen Victoria, for whom he sculpted a figurehead. By 1815, he had introduced his son, Thomas, into the family business and they produced some substantial work together. François also produced many plans for a variety of clients in his work as an architect.

• Building — Year Completed — Location — Image • Morrin Centre, (former Quebec Prison) — 1808 - 1813 — Chaussée des Écossais (formerly St. Stanislas Street), Quebec City — • Notre-Dame Basilica, Montreal — interior decoration; choir 1785–95; facade & vault decoration, 1818; demolished, 1824 — Montreal — • Quebec Court House — 1799-1804; burned 1873 — St. Louis Street, Quebec City • Chateau St. Louis — 1810-11; burned 1834 — Quebec City — • Former Trois-Rivières Prison — 1816-1822 — Trois-Rivières • Congregationalist Chapel — 1818 — St. Joseph Street, Quebec City • Église Saint-Roch — 1811, burned 1816; rebuilt 1816–18; demolished 1914 — St. Joseph Street, Quebec City • Grand Allee, country residence for Joseph F. Perrault — 1812 — Quebec City • Finlay Market — 1816 — Quebec City • Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, Quebec City, remodeling of the facade and interior — 1816 — Place Royale, Quebec City — • Jesuit Chapel — 1818 — Auteuil Street, Quebec City —

François Baillairgé is recorded as architect, sculptor, painter and wood carver.