Poirier Narcisse

Narcisse Poirier (1883-1984)

Born in St. Félix de Valois, a small town in the province of Quebec, he began his artistic career t the age of five, sketching likenesses of friends of the family and visitors to the Poirier household. At sixteen he entered the Monument National Mtl. where he studied drawing, painting and modelling from 1905 to 1912, During this period he received instructions from a number of prominent teachers including Edmond Dyonnet, Maurice Cullen, William Brymner, Georges Delfosse, Joseph Saint-Charles and sculptor Alfred Laliberté. In 1920 Poirier studied in France at Académie Julian, Paris. In 1922 his painting ‘’La Maison d’Henri IV’’ was purchased by the Quebec Provincial Government. Throughout his career Poirier participated in numerous groups and solo shows. During an exhibit of his work at the Canadian Embassy in Washington D.C. in 1970 he was described by art critic Frank Getlein as follows, ‘’He was, never committed to any one gallery, preferring to sell his paintings on the spur of the moment to people to whom he took a liking. A compassionate man, he could not conceive that life could be complete unless it was shared.