Elise L'Heureux

Elise L’Heureux (January 22, 1827 — January 1896) was a photographer from Quebec City, Quebec. L’Heureux's work was prominent during the Victorian Era. At that time, art moved towards romanticism and mysticism in connection with social values and the arts.

Photographers during the Victorian Era came primarily from Europe, or trained there. This resulted in a European influence on Canadian photography. L’Heureux's initial artistic focus was on portraits, typically of children, for which she became known. She expanded to include calling cards and landscapes. L’Heureux contributed to documentary photography in the 19th century through her photos of residents and landscapes of Quebec. She managed her own photography company after the death of her husband.

Early life

L’Heureux married Jules Isaie Benoit dit Livernois[1] in 1849 and 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 Livernois died of tuberculosis in 1865. A year later she partnered with her son-in-law Louis Bienvenu, creating The Livernois and Bienvenu photography studio.

L’Heureux gave birth to son Jules Ernest Benoit dit Livernois on August 19, 1851, in Saint-Zéphirin-de-Courval, Quebec. He followed his parent's footsteps, traveling throughout Quebec taking landscapes photos and outdoor group portraits. In 1989, he was one of four 19th-century photographers to be commemorated with a Canadian postage stamp.

Career

L’Heureux specialized in portraits of children from 1857 to 1858. The business expanded to include three studios. After the partnership with Bienvenu, the business expanded to include calling cards and landscapes in addition to portraits. Many of the studio's works are now owned by the Musée Nationale des Beaux-arts du Québec.[2]

The studio had its works featured in L’Opinion Publique and in Canadian Illustrated News. The partnership with Bienvenu was dissolved in April 1873. Jules Livernois, took over the studio until 1952. The studio went bankrupt in 1979.

Photographic techniques

L’Heureux employed various photographic techniques including daguerrotypeand collodion, or "wet-plate", process and stereoscopy. L’Heureux added color with aquatint and oil mediums.

Exhibitions
  • 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, the Library and Archives Canada and the Canadian Women Artists History Initiative Documentation Centre in Quebec.

Death

L’Heureux died in Quebec City, Quebec, in January 1896. The Livernois family continues to be memorialized in place names in Quebec.

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References
  1. "Canada's Documentary Photography Scene – Point of View Magazine". povmagazine.com. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
  2. "Canadian Women Artists History Initiative : Artist Database : Artists : L'HEUREUX, Élise". cwahi.concordia.ca. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
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