Chateau Dufresne
Encyclopedia
The former residence of Marius Dufresne and Oscar Dufresne, the Château Dufresne was originally divided into two separate households, one for each brother. The founding fathers of the city of Maisonneuve
- now incorporated with the city of Montreal - the famous Dufresne
brothers were wealthy twentieth century French Canadian
entrepreneurs who played a major role in the history of Montreal
. Now used as an historical museum showcasing the Beaux-Arts architecture and antique furnishings of the former Dufresne
residences, the Chateau Dufresne was declared an historic monument by the provincial government in 1976.
Designed by the Parisian architect Jules Renard
who based his plans on the Petit Trianon in Versailles
, France
, the Dufresne
mansion was an ambitious project from the get-go. Constructed from 1915 to 1918, the interior of this Gothic-inspired mansion was decorated with a series of beautiful murals and ceiling paintings by Guido Nincheri
in the 1920s. Known for his piety and devout religious leanings, the secular subject matter of the Château Dufresne's interior decor is an amazing exception to the rest of Nincheri's artistic career. Having served as the Montreal
Museum of Decorative Arts from 1979 to 1997, the Chateau Dufresne now offers tours of the mansion and also plays host to various temporary art and history exhibitions.
East, adjacent to the Olympic Stadium
, Montreal Botanical Garden, near the Pie-IX
subway station.
, CHIN
, and Virtual Museum of Canada
.
Maisonneuve
- People :* Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve, a French officer who contributed to the foundation of Montreal* Jules_Germain_Fran%C3%A7ois_Maisonneuve, prominent surgeon of 19th-century Paris* Paul Maisonneuve - Other uses :...
- now incorporated with the city of Montreal - the famous Dufresne
Dufresne
Dufresne or du Fresne is a French topographical name from Old French meaning "ash" as in Ash tree from the Latin: fraxinus and may refer to the following:In people:...
brothers were wealthy twentieth century French Canadian
French Canadian
French Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
entrepreneurs who played a major role in the history of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. Now used as an historical museum showcasing the Beaux-Arts architecture and antique furnishings of the former Dufresne
Dufresne
Dufresne or du Fresne is a French topographical name from Old French meaning "ash" as in Ash tree from the Latin: fraxinus and may refer to the following:In people:...
residences, the Chateau Dufresne was declared an historic monument by the provincial government in 1976.
Designed by the Parisian architect Jules Renard
Jules Renard
Pierre-Jules Renard or Jules Renard was a French author and member of the Académie Goncourt, most famous for the works Poil de carotte and Les Histoires Naturelles...
who based his plans on the Petit Trianon in Versailles
Versailles
Versailles , a city renowned for its château, the Palace of Versailles, was the de facto capital of the kingdom of France for over a century, from 1682 to 1789. It is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and remains an important administrative and judicial centre...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, the Dufresne
Dufresne
Dufresne or du Fresne is a French topographical name from Old French meaning "ash" as in Ash tree from the Latin: fraxinus and may refer to the following:In people:...
mansion was an ambitious project from the get-go. Constructed from 1915 to 1918, the interior of this Gothic-inspired mansion was decorated with a series of beautiful murals and ceiling paintings by Guido Nincheri
Guido Nincheri
Guido Nincheri was a Canadian artist working mainly in stained glass and fresco.-Biography:Born in Prato, Italy, he studied art in Florence and immigrated to Montreal in 1915 after a short stay in Boston where he decorated the Boston Opera House.Nincheri designed the interior decoration of many...
in the 1920s. Known for his piety and devout religious leanings, the secular subject matter of the Château Dufresne's interior decor is an amazing exception to the rest of Nincheri's artistic career. Having served as the Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
Museum of Decorative Arts from 1979 to 1997, the Chateau Dufresne now offers tours of the mansion and also plays host to various temporary art and history exhibitions.
Location
Château Dufresne is located on Sherbrooke StreetSherbrooke Street
Sherbrooke Street is a major east-west artery and at in length, is the second longest street on the Island of Montreal. The street begins in the town of Montreal West and ends on the extreme tip of the island in Pointe-aux-Trembles, intersecting Gouin Boulevard and joining up with Notre-Dame...
East, adjacent to the Olympic Stadium
Olympic Stadium (Montreal)
The Olympic Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district of Montreal, Quebec, Canada built as the main venue for the 1976 Summer Olympics...
, Montreal Botanical Garden, near the Pie-IX
Pie-IX (Montreal Metro)
Pie-IX is a station on the Green Line of the Montreal Metro rapid transit system operated by the Société de transport de Montréal . It is in the district of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve in the borough of Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve in Montreal, Quebec, Canada...
subway station.
External links
Affiliations
The Museum is affiliated with: CMACanadian Museums Association
The Canadian Museums Association is a national organization for the promotion of museums in Canada.The Canadian Museums Association is the national organization for the advancement of the Canadian museum sector, representing Canadian museum professionals both within Canada and internationally. The...
, CHIN
Canadian Heritage Information Network
The Canadian Heritage Information Network is a Canadian government-supported organization that provides a networked interface to Canada's heritage, largely through the World Wide Web. It aims to give access to Canada's heritage for both Canadians and a worldwide audience, by supporting the...
, and Virtual Museum of Canada
Virtual Museum of Canada
The Virtual Museum of Canada is Canada's national virtual museum. With a directory of over 3,000 Canadian heritage institutions and a database of over 600 virtual exhibits, the VMC brings together Canada's museums regardless of size or geographical location.The VMC includes virtual exhibits,...
.