Cape Diamant’s escarpment and strategic maritime position made it an ideal location to mount a military defence system. Confident in this conclusion, the French built the Saint-Louis Forts around 1620, and went on to build the Cap Redoubt building. When George Heriot painted this watercolour around 1793, the British had just erected a temporary Citadel.

1793 - 1840

Québec City en grand: A few panoramic works from the early 19th century

From the early 19th century onwards, there was a proliferation of realistic paintings showing Québec City silhouetted against vast panoramic landscapes. These pieces reveal the city’s picturesque nature. Behind its tranquil exterior, Québec City was already becoming one of the greatest gateways for British immigration to North America. This album presents panoramic works showing Québec City, surrounded by water, forests and mountains. For many immigrants to North America, such views were their first sight of a city on the continent. Come and see what they saw!

Cape Diamant, as seen from the St. Lawrence River

George Heriot Cape Diamant’s escarpment and strategic maritime position made it an ideal location to mount a military defence system. Confident in this conclusion, the French built the Saint-Louis Forts around 1620, and went on to build the Cap Redoubt building. When George Heriot painted this watercolour around 1793, the British had just erected a temporary Citadel.

Chronoscope Aside from these military structures, do you know which buildings would eventually top this cape? (unilingual French for a limited time)

Depicted period: 1793

Source: Library and Archives Canada Document in the public domain (free of copyright) - Acc. No. 1989-470-22V - Date: 1793

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