The former President of the National Assembly Jacques Chagnon has chosen to reconnect with oil painting for a portrait that will immortalize him with “an original touch” in the pantheon of the institution, where he will join his predecessors.
Mr. Chagnon, whose mandate ended more than four years ago, told the Duty that he will however have to wait until 2024 to unveil the work, at the end of what he himself describes as a “saga”.
“It’s not easy to find portrait painters today,” he said.
For this reason, his successor, François Paradis, will precede him on Wednesday, during a ceremony in the hall of the National Assembly, where he will present the portrait that a photographer has made of him.
Mr. Chagnon had however started his project a little before leaving his functions, in 2018. He first chose an indigenous painter with whom the project did not succeed. A second artist then withdrew. Finally, last week, Mr. Chagnon reached an agreement with the painter Rosalie Gamache, who agreed to do his portrait.
“It’s still pretty hot,” he admitted. It will be ready in May next year, so it’s a saga, it’s just because it will be a little longer. »
Mr. Chagnon’s decision breaks with recent practice, which has led four presidents to opt for a photo of themselves rather than a painting since 2009.
“Each of them decided that was what they liked best,” he explained. I can’t comment on their choice, but personally, I was looking for something a little more original. »
Mr. Chagnon, Liberal MP from 1985 to 2018, says the canvas that will represent him will respect the budget, which is limited to $15,000.
“I made the decision that it would be an oil painting and not a photograph. It’s a little more complicated than when you take the photographer of the National Assembly, it’s another world, ”he concedes.
Photos and paintings
After stepping down as president in 2008, Michel Bissonnet himself broke with the practice of previous decades by choosing to be photographed rather than painted. Photographic portraits were the norm at the time of Maurice Duplessis, recalled on this occasion The duty. His successors Yvon Vallières, François Gendron and Mr. Paradis then imitated him.
Even if he denies wanting to offer “a virtual speculative gain” to the National Assembly, Mr. Chagnon pointed out that the portrait of his predecessor Clément Richard, produced by the famous painter Jean Paul Lemieux, was now worth more than its cost. of $15,000, which had caused controversy, in the early 1980s.
“Everyone had rolled in the scandal, but today, it is a painting which must be worth a million”, he estimated.
A lover of painting, Mr. Chagnon spoke with Rosalie Gamache about his artistic conceptions before deciding that she would do his portrait.
“I’m sensitive to that, so I tried to find someone who would have a fairly matching sensitivity,” he said.
I can’t comment [le choix de mes prédécesseurs]but personally, I was looking for something a little more original
A few sitting sessions will be required. They should begin after a trip that Mr. Chagnon must make in the spring to Amsterdam, where he will also go to see an important retrospective of the Dutch painter of the XVIIe century Johannes Vermeer.
According to Mr. Chagnon, a portrait like his must necessarily be figurative.
“Obviously you have to recognize the subject, it’s a good idea,” he said.
However, the setting in which he will appear remains to be determined. The ex-president hinted that the flower gardens of parliament are among the options on the table.
“I said how I found them beautiful and that I found it important,” he said.
Faster and less expensive
François Paradis, who succeeded Mr. Chagnon from 2018 to 2022, said he opted for the simplicity of portrait photography.
“You have a choice, but I thought it was nice, I had a good artist, and it’s obviously less expensive as well,” he explained to the Duty.
According to Mr. Paradis, the cost of his photo is about half of the maximum of $15,000.
“I wanted it to be done quickly enough to leave room for those who continue to do good work,” he added.
A spokesperson for the institution, Béatrice Zacharie, said that each president is responsible for choosing the type of work to be created, photography or painting, and for selecting the photographer or the artist-painter.
The $15,000 budget includes production and management costs.