Fleurimond Constantineau (1905–1981)
Title: ” Sur la Mer du Nord Arctique ”
Panel size: 8″ x 10″ ( 15 3/4″ x 17 7/8″ framed ) ………$1,950.00 Canadian
Provenance:
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
Sur la Mer du Nord Arctique (1951)
This historically significant work belongs to the most celebrated chapter of Fleurimond Constantineau’s career: his pioneering first expedition to the Canadian Far North in 1951. Painted aboard the supply ship Regina Polaris, this oil on Masonite study captures the raw, crystalline atmosphere of the Hudson Strait with remarkable immediacy. Constantineau was a trailblazer who sought to document the “human presence” and the primal power of the Arctic long before it was a common subject in the Montreal art scene. In this piece, his “first manner” is on full display, utilizing a sophisticated palette of steel greys and luminous blues to render the movement of ice-cold waters. As a documented piece from his inaugural Northern voyage, this painting is not merely a landscape but a primary document of 20th-century Canadian exploration and artistic bravery.
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.