Pointe-à-Callière, Montreal’s museum of archaeology and history, announced Monday that it has added to its collection the work entitled 1701. The Great Peace of Montréal by artist Nicolas Sollogoub.
1701. The Great Peace of Montréal. Pointe-à-Callière museum, Montreal.
The following is from the museum’s news release:
The magnificent glass wall—made up of 16 panels and extending over of total length of about 6 metres and a height of 1.5 metres (20 feet by 5 feet)—is now an integral part of the Museum’s permanent exhibition, Where Montréal Was Born, where all visitors can stop to admire it.
A symbolic and figurative manifestation of the Great Peace of Montréal, the work illustrates how this peace pact was an important milestone in the history of North America. After a long negotiation process, the Governor of New France, Louis-Hector de Callière, and delegates from 39 Native nations met on August 4, 1701, on Callière Point—where Pointe-à-Callière, the Montréal Museum of Archaeology and History, stands today—to ratify the treaty of the Great Peace of Montréal. This unique event was a defining moment in the history of Montréal and of international diplomacy. By rallying culturally diverse nations, under the aegis of the Governor of New France and the Chief of the Huron-Wendats, Kondiaronk, the signing of the treaty allowed for the establishment of healthy, balanced relations between the French colonists and the indigenous peoples, while also consolidating trade between the two.
The 16 panels that make up the work illustrate both the spot where the signing took place, as well as the key figures that took part in the event. The wall is made of Plexiglas that has been painted, engraved, and enhanced with acrylic varnish affixed to two sheets of glass. Nicolas Sollogoub spent his life working in the service of history. Born on November 10, 1925 in Soissons, France, the artist settled in Montréal in 1951. Bringing together design and heritage, he helped make art more accessible by exhibiting his works in public spaces. An innovative man, he was not afraid to push the boundaries of creativity by inventing the “tridimensional unleaded technique” in 1952, which resulted in a whole new genre of stained glass. Montrealers are indebted to him for the restoration of Château Dufresne between 1976 and 1977, as well as the panoramic glass panel artwork in the McGill metro station, among others. Mr. Sollogoub unfortunately passed away last July 11 in Montréal. The inauguration of his work took place with the artist’s wife, Simone Sollogoub, in attendance, along with the Executive Director of Pointe-à-Callière, Francine Lelièvre.
To learn more, visit the virtual exhibition 1701 – The Great Peace of Montréal on the Museum’s website. The virtual exhibit includes an interactive map, videos and resources for teachers.
The Great Peace of Montréal. Travels of Augustin Le Gardeur de Courtemanche through the Upcountry. Pointe-à-Callière museum. 2014.
Thank you for posting this, Gail. The 1701 treaty is a truly important event in history that too few people are aware of. Among other things, it made the founding of Fort Pontchartrain / Detroit, Michigan possible.
This sounds wonderful to see – thanks for posting it, Gail. I’ll be going through the virtual exhibition. Wish I could cross Canada to see it in person!
Thank you Gail. Excellent article which I enjoyed reading. I was priviledged in August 2001 to visit the museum Pointe-à-Callières and to see the actual 300 yr. old treaty with it’s various signatures while it was there on loan from France.