Statue of Samuel de Champlain, Bronze statue in Old Quebec City, Canada.
The Samuel de Champlain monument is a 16-metre structure on Dufferin Terrace in Old Quebec, next to Château Frontenac. Its bronze statue of Champlain, sculpted by Paul-Romain Chevré, measures 4.25 metres and shows him in his forties. A personification of the city stands at the base. The statue was cast in France and shipped in sections.
French sculptor Paul Chevré created this work in 1898 to honor Samuel de Champlain, who founded Quebec as a French settlement in 1608. The monument was part of efforts to recognize the city's early history and European roots.
The monument is a symbol of Quebec City, and its inauguration on 21 September 1898 was presided over by Governor General Lord Aberdeen, with Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier and Quebec premier Félix-Gabriel Marchand present. The bronze was cast in France and shipped in sections. At the base stands a personification of the city.
The monument sits on a public terrace area that is easy to reach on foot and remains freely accessible throughout the year. The location offers good views of the river and historic district, making it convenient to visit between other activities.
The bronze statue was cast in France and shipped to Quebec in several sections so it could be transported. When it was unveiled, the trade paper La Semaine Commerciale mocked it as a "gros mousquetaire triste" and advised the sculptor to take lessons; today it is sometimes called the best likeness of Champlain.
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