Paul-Raymond Jourdain Labrosse

Paul-Raymond Jourdain Labrosse

Paul-Raymond Jourdain Labrosse, dit, joiner-sculptor, organ builder (b at Montréal 20 Sept 1697; d there 8 June 1769). He was hired in 1721 to repair an old organ and build a new 7-stop instrument for the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Québec (now Basilica of Notre Dame de Québec). The leading Montréal joiner-sculptor from 1730 to 1760, he trained at least 3 apprentices. He sometimes worked as a joiner, but was usually employed as a wood sculptor by a dozen Montréal-area parishes, creating for them retables, tabernacles and statues as well as various liturgical accessories.

Few of his works remain. One is the richly ornamented tabernacle (1741) originally in the old LONGUEUIL, Qué, church, now in the National Gallery of Canada. There is also the vigorous Christ (1741) in Notre-Dame de Montréal, and some small baroque-style statues.