British artist Philip John Bainbrigge painted this watercolour looking out from the Diamant Bastion at the Citadel. A half-frozen St. Lawrence River is in view. Small boats can be seen. Some local residents, determined to continue their activities, would canoe across the river strewn with ice. Today, sports enthusiasts still cross the river this way.

1840 - 1865

When the waters freeze over

Before icebreakers arrived in the 20th century, the immense expanse of the St. Lawrence River in front of Québec City would freeze over every winter. The city would then be cut off from international shipping for many months. In town, however, people carried on with their activities. They would cross the river, either by canoe over floating mounds of ice or on the ice bridge, depending on conditions. All around Québec City, rivers and frozen waterfalls offered an extraordinary spectacle. These magnificent winter landscapes are revealed through 19th-century artworks.

The St. Lawrence River, seen from the Diamant Bastion, at the Citadel

John Philip Bainbridge British artist Philip John Bainbrigge painted this watercolour looking out from the Diamant Bastion at the Citadel. A half-frozen St. Lawrence River is in view. Small boats can be seen. Some local residents, determined to continue their activities, would canoe across the river strewn with ice. Today, sports enthusiasts still cross the river this way.

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Depicted period: 1842

Source: Library and Archives Canada Document in the public domain (free of copyright) - Acc. No. 1983-47-108 - Date: 1842

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