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Beauport is a town on the St. Lawrence River east of Québec City. This watercolour by artist James Pattison Cockburn depicts Beauport residents’ view of Québec City in the early 19th century. At the time, the area was still quite rural. The hill in the background is Cape Diamant, where downtown Québec City stands.
1829 - 1831

Touring Québec City with Major-General Cockburn

Like many army personnel, Major-General James Pattison Cockburn trained at the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich, England. This institution trained military personnel in advanced artistic techniques so they could depict the places the were deployed to. When he was stationed in Québec City, from 1822 to 1823 and again from 1826 to 1832, Cockburn produced dozens of magnificent works he sketched on the spot. This album invites you to take a tour of Québec City and surrounding areas through a few of the major-general’s works.

Québec City, seen in winter from Beauport

James Pattison Cockburn Beauport is a town on the St. Lawrence River east of Québec City. This watercolour by artist James Pattison Cockburn depicts Beauport residents’ view of Québec City in the early 19th century. At the time, the area was still quite rural. The hill in the background is Cape Diamant, where downtown Québec City stands.
Chronoscope Which category does this image belong to? (unilingual French for a limited time) Source: Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec Document in the public domain (free of copyright) - Date: 1830