Fleurimond Constantineau (1905–1981)
Title: ” Automne, Piedmont (1946) ”
Panel size: 8″ x 10″ ( 15 3/4″ x 17 7/8″ framed ) ………$1,475.00 Canadian
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Provenance: The Quebecair Legacy: The Constantineau Family Collection
Acquired in the late 1970s, this work originates from the collection of an avid enthusiast of the artist. The original owner was a personal acquaintance of both Constantineau and his son through their shared careers at Quebecair, establishing a direct and credible link to the artist’s studio. A detailed letter of provenance is available upon purchase.
Ownership History:
- Original Private Collection (Acquired late 1970s)
- By Descent (Family of the original owner)
- Current Private Collection
Automne, Piedmont (1946)
This striking work captures Fleurimond Constantineau at a pivotal moment in his career, returning to the rugged landscapes of the Quebec Laurentians following the end of the Second World War. Painted in 1946, this oil on panel study of Piedmont demonstrates the artist’s mastery of the “plein air” tradition, executed with the confident, gestural brushwork that would become his hallmark.
While Constantineau later gained fame for his Arctic expeditions, it was in these rural hillsides that he refined his ability to translate the “soul of the land” onto a small-scale panel. In this piece, his early command of color is on full display; he utilizes a bold, high-contrast palette of vermilion, ochre, and deep evergreen to render the peak of a Canadian autumn. The elevated vantage point and textured impasto create a sense of vibrating energy, immortalizing the raw, seasonal transition of the Laurentian valley. As a dated and titled work from this prolific post-war period, this painting serves as an essential link in the evolution of 20th-century Quebecois landscape painting.
Fleurimond Constantineau (1905–1981)
Fleurimond Constantineau was a distinguished Canadian painter, draftsman, and educator who occupied a unique place in 20th-century art. A graduate of the Montreal School of Fine Arts (Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Mtl. 1924-29), Constantineau was recognized early in his career for his exceptional drawing skills, earning five bronze medals and a prestigious gold medal from the French government for academic excellence. He dedicated decades to his craft as a professor of drawing and painting, influencing generations of artists at his alma mater and other Montreal institutions from 1932 through the late 1940s.
While deeply rooted in his native Montreal, Constantineau’s most profound artistic legacy stems from his extensive travels. He is most celebrated for his six major expeditions to the Canadian Far Northbetween 1951 and 1973. Through his empathetic portraits of Inuit people and his vibrant coastal seascapes of the Hudson Strait, he played a critical role in bringing the raw beauty and human spirit of the Arctic to a national audience. His work was equally inspired by his travels to the Caribbean, Europe, and Africa, as well as his deep affection for the historic streetscapes of Old Montreal and the rugged landscapes of rural Quebec.
Independent of the radical movements of his time, such as Automatism, Constantineau maintained a descriptive style characterized by a mastery of atmospheric light and vigorous impasto. His ability to capture the “human presence” within a landscape remains a hallmark of his work. Today, his paintings are held in the permanent collections of Canada’s most prestigious institutions, including the National Gallery of Canada and the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, cementing his status as a pillar of Canadian heritage art.
Copyright of the artist and or the artist estate.