An iceboat slides over the frozen St. Lawrence in this piece by the famous painter Cornelius Krieghoff. It shows a boat on runners sliding over the icy surface, pushed by the winds. This mode of transport was common in 19th-century Québec City. It could be used in the depths of winter, when the entire river was frozen over. This was called the “ice bridge” at the time.

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.

An ice boat on the river

Cornelius Krieghoff An iceboat slides over the frozen St. Lawrence in this piece by the famous painter Cornelius Krieghoff. It shows a boat on runners sliding over the icy surface, pushed by the winds. This mode of transport was common in 19th-century Québec City. It could be used in the depths of winter, when the entire river was frozen over. This was called the “ice bridge” at the time.

Chronoscope Can you identify any buildings in the background? (unilingual French for a limited time)

Depicted period: 1860

Source: Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec Document in the public domain (free of copyright) - Date: 1860

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