Skip to main content
This watercolour by renowned artist James Pattison Cockburn depicts the ice bridge that formed before Québec City in the early 19th century. We see small groups of locals chatting on the ice. This icy place was used in winter as a kind of public square, where citizens could meet and socialize.
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.

Cape Diamant seen from the ice bridge

James Pattison Cockburn This watercolour by renowned artist James Pattison Cockburn depicts the ice bridge that formed before Québec City in the early 19th century. We see small groups of locals chatting on the ice. This icy place was used in winter as a kind of public square, where citizens could meet and socialize.
Chronoscope What other details do you see in this piece? (unilingual French for a limited time) Source: Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec Document in the public domain (free of copyright) - Date: 1831