Le travail présenté sur ce site est constitué par mes notes de recherche. Il a principalement été réalisé entre 2007 et 2019 alors que je poursuivais des études de baccalauréat, de maîtrise et de doctorat en histoire de l'art. Mes questions de recherche portaient sur les expositions organisées à Montréal entre 1860 et 1920, principalement les expositions d'œuvres prêtées à l'Art Association of Montreal devenue depuis le Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal. Le contenu est donc fortement orienté dans cette direction. Malgré tout, j'espère qu'il saura vous renseigner sur des aspects de cette période de notre passé artistique. Vous pouvez accéder à l'accueil des notes de recherche ou retourner sur l'accueil du site marcgauthier.com.
Commentaires sur le collectionneur [ haut ]
* Archives du MBAM:
Le dossier de Gibb contient son testament. Photographié.
11 mai 1877
- Le point 16 accorde 200$ à l'artiste William Sawyer et annule ses dettes
- Le point 32 accorde 2000$ au Western Hospital de Montréal
- Le point 33 accorde 5000$ à la French Evangelical Protestant Church au coin de Craig et Ste Elizabeth
- Le point 34 accorde 2000$ à la Sabrevois Mission
- Le point 35 accorde 2000$ à chacune des institutions suivantes:
Le synode du diocèse de Montréal pour son mission fund
Le synode du diocèse de Montréal pour son widows and orphans fund
To the managers of the Ministers Widows and Orphans Fund of the Presbyterian Church of Canada in connection with the Church of Scotland
To the Ladies of the Protestant Orphan Asylum of Montreal
To the Protestant House of Industry and Refuge of Montreal
To the Society of the Montreal General Hospital
To the Ladies Benevolent Institution of Montreal
To the MontrealUniversity Lying in Hospital and to the Female Home Aqueduct Street
La somme de 1000$ to the Cathedral Church Home of Montreal
- Le point 36 accorde 400$ aux écoles du dimanche liées à St. Andrew's Church et à ;a cathédrale Christ Church
- Le point 37 décrit la collection de curiosités:
I give devise and bequeath to my said nephew Charles Gibb all my collection of ancient coins and all my Egyptian curiosities, namely Mummy, Crocodiles,Ostrich eggs, Blue Egyptian Pottery figures, Skin of the Tree from the Orinoco, Rhynocerous horn & Hippopotamus teeth, also farthing containing a Silver pennypiece bequeathed to me by my Father, conditionally that Mrs Ferguson and Elizabeth Orkney are to have any portion of said curiosities they may desire.
- Le point 38 donne à Catherine Ann Ferguson des meubles, des objets en bronze, les livres consacrés à la musique, les gravures, des parfums, un anneau en or, une théière, un pianoforte, etc.
- Le point 39 accorde à Elizabeth Caroline Orkney des objets de Jérusalem, diverses curiosités, le stéréoscope et les vues l'accompagnant.
- Le point 40 lègue à ses nièces Catherine Ann Ferguson et Elizabeth Caroline Orkney des soies de Damas, des parfums et un Bronze casket purchased in Paris.
*****- Le point 42 lègue à ses nièces Catherine Ann Ferguson et Elizabeth Caroline Orkney ses oeuvres. Ce point est aussi référencé au point 44.
Oeuvres: the Parian Group representing three figures supporting a Vase of flowers by Copeland of London, the pair of large Porcelain Vases with covers and figures painted on them called "Christopher Colombo" and purchased in Paris, also the painted Porcelain dancing figures with shades in the front drawing room and the smaller pari of Japanese vases in the drawing room purchased in Amsterdam, also the Japanese grotesque Dogs, also the choice of one pair of the French Pomerian Vases called "Etruscan" on the stall tables, also the pink and white globular ornamento mounted in gilt Bronze for Scent Bottles, also the case of model Diamonds and the two Bronze models of the monuments in the Place Vendôme and Place de la Bastille, all my illustrated Books and the two crimson and white caskets mounted in bronze.
It is also my will and desire that they retain in their possession the hereinafter names twelve Oil Paintings and two Bronzes, namely
"Landscape" in front drawing room after Salvator Rosa
"Landscape" also in front drawing room after Claude
"Holiday in a Village School" after Pez [Aimé]
"Interior,"
"Old woman Sleeping" after Leys
"Magdalena" after Titian
"Two views on the Thames" by Boddington
"Every one to his own liking" by Godineau
"La Fête des Innocents" (in the Gallery, by Grips)
"Le Desert" (recently imported) by Reyntjens
"Fruit and Dead Game" (in dining room) by Schafles and
"The Peddler" (also in dining room) by Dormschroder, also
two Bronzes representing a Boar Hunt with marble pedestal by Morris and
a Vase in bronze called "Cretera" with pedestal by Barbedienne,
and on the death of the survivor of my said nieces, these twelve above named paintings and two bronzes to become the property of the City of Montreal, represented by the Art Association of Montreal, to whom they are bequeathed hereafter in this my will.
*****- Le point 43 cède la collection de peintures à l'huile et 6 bronzes à la ville de Montréal, représentée par l'AAM, pour débuter une galerie d'art publique.
Fortythirdly- Having observed a growing taste for the fine arts in this city, and a desire having been frequently expressed by many of our citizens for the formation of a public Picture Gallery, and an Art Association having been formed a few years ago for the promotion of the Fine Arts, of which Association I have myself been a member since its formation. And whereas from the success of recent public exhibitions of works of art held here, and the interest manifested therein by the citizens generally, the Art Association of Montreal has given tokens of a permanent existence. I do theretofore give + bequeath to the City of Montreal, represented by the said Art Association of Montreal, all my collection of Oil paintings consisting view of about Eighty-four, and sixBronzes, as more particularly set forth and described in a list attached to this my Will, and signed by me, and the said Notaries, and I also bequeath to the said Art Association of Montreal my Paintings I may hereafter purchase at any period previous to my death, it being my desire that these paintings may form a nucleus of a permanent gallery of works of art in the City of Montreal.
***** - Le point 44 donne à l'Art Association les bronzes "Orestes and Ifegenia", "Elzear et Rebecca", deux "Egyptian Winged Spinxes" ainsi que les toiles de Joseph Bütler "Lake Wallenstadt"(#1612) et "Le Lac de quatre Cantons" (#1614). Ses nièces peuvent les conserver en attendant. Les oeuvres doivent demeurer accrochées tant que la vente de succession n'est pas complétée. Les peintures non listées, donc moins bonnes, seront vendues aux enchères. Gibb lègue également un terrain pour construire une galerie permanente. Des consignes sur l'architecture sont données. Si les fondations ne sont pas commencées d'ici trois ans, le terrain retourne à la famille. Sinon, une somme de 8000$ est donnée pour la construction.
Fortyfourthly - Having recently imported from France a Bronze Group, namely "Orestes and Ifegenia," with marble pedestal, and another Statue called "Elzear and Rebecca." I hereby bequeath the same to the said Art Association of Montreal, but with the condition that they remain in the possession of any said two nieces now residing with me so long as they may wish to retain the same in our present dwelling, save and except the said bronze statue of "Elzear and Rebecca," which I desire shall be taken possession of immediately after my death by the said Art Association, And I also bequeath two bronzes "Egyptian Winged Sphinxes" on precisely the same conditions as the above mentioned "Orestes and Ifegenia,' to the said Art Association of Montreal. It is also my will and desire that my said two nieces retain in their possession the two original Oil paintings recently imported from Dusseldorf by Butter, namely "Lake Wallenstadt," and its mate "Le Lac de quatre Cantons," until it pleases them to give them up or on the death of the survivor of them, when they will be given up to, and may be claimed by the said Art Association of Montreal.
It is also my desire that the twelve pictures and two bronzes in the fortysecond paragraph of this my will, do remain in the possession of my two nieces until the death of the survivor of them, should they so wish to retain them when they will be given up to the said city of Montreal, represented as aforesaid by the said Art Association of Montreal to whom they are bequeathed by this my will.
And it is also my desire that the said pictures shall remain in their positions on the walls of my residence and in the gallery appropriated for them as at present, or at the day of my death, as well as any other articles bequeathed by this my will until after the sale of my household goods and effects.
As there are several paintings in my residence not sufficiently good to be placed in a public gallery I desire all those not named, and included in the list of paintings attached to this my will to be sold at auction with my other goods and effects save and except any paintings I may hereafter purchase.
* And with the view to the establishment of a permanent gallery of art, I foresee that the Art Association will find i a difficult matter to procure suitable and proper accommodation for the establishment of any number number (sic) of works of art they may possess.
* I hope that my friends who are members of the Art Association, will use exertions and proceed at once after my demise in seconding my efforts to supply what has been deemed a want in our growing city namely a permanent building for the exhibition of works of art. I therefore give, devise and bequeath to the Art Association of Montreal a body politic and corporate and duly incorporated [... description de la loi d'incorporation]
** That certain lot of ground known and designated on the official plan and in the Book of Reform of St. Antoine Ward Montreal by the number [...] on the corner of Ste Catherine Street and Phillips Square containing about sixty feet on Phillips Square and eighty feet on Ste Catherine Street which I conceive to be well adapted as to size and situation for the purpose of building a fine art gallery.I direct that the building so to be erected on said lot shall not be higher than two stories to be of stone lined with buck, the Art Galleries (receiving their light from the roof) to be in the second story, as also the ante-rooms and the portion allotted as a dwelling for the custodian, should more room be required a third story might be raised about twenty feet from the adjoining stone gable of the house to the South East now the property of the Honourable Charles Wilson or his representatives taking care to over shadow the sky lights of the galleries or endanger them by avalanches of Snow, the entrance to be from Phillips Square and the ground floor on the line of Ste Catherine Street to be appropriated to shops, which in a rapidly growing thoroughfare will rent easily, and bring in a handsome revenue to pay interest and other expenses. Should no commencement be made in actual building of said proposed fine arts gallery for a period of three years from the date of my demise, this bequest of said lot of land to be cancelled, and in that case I hereby declare the same cancelled, and said lot shall revert to and form part of the residue of my estate, but should said building be commenced within the time presented by this paragraph, I give and bequeath the sum of Eight thousand dollars, as soon as the foundations for such buildings are laid, provided my Brother George Gibb will have departed this life, it being my intention that this sum shall be paid out of his share of the residue of my estate as hereinafter provided.
****** - Le point 45 concerne la distribution des intérêts du reste de l'héritage entre son frère, ses deux nièces et les enfants de Thomas Gibb. Après le décès de son frère, une provision prévoit la distribution de la somme générant des intérêts de cette manière:
Montreal General Hospital: 12 000$
Art Association of Montreal: 8 000$
* - Le point 46 concerne la constitution d'un fonds de 40 000$ pour sa nièce Elizabeth Oakley. À son décès, la somme est distribuée ainsi:
Son neveu Charles Gibb: 8 000$
Infants Home of Montreal: 4 000$
Institut Canadien of Montreal, of which I am a member: 4 000$
Ladies Benevolent Institution of Montreal: 4 000$
Church Wardens of the Church of St John the Evangelist où officie le révérend Edmond Wood: 4 000$ pour la construction de leur nouvelle église
The Protestant Deaf and Dumb Institution of Côte St Antoine: 4 000$
Western Hospital of Montreal: 4 000$
Le reste forme une partie du résidu de l'héritage. Le point est légèrement précisé en annexe (je ne comprends pas la différence -- à étudier au besoin)
- Le point 47 concerne son neveu James Campbell Gibb, désespoir de la famille. Les revenus sont versés à son épouse, dame Margaret Kerr.
- Le point 48 concerne la vente de ses biens. Il permet à ses nièces de demeurer dans la maison pendant 1 an ainsi que des points destinés aux exécuteurs testamentaires.
- Le point 49 concerne la vérification qu'il est mort. Ses veines doivent être ouvertes et coupées afin de s'assurer du décès.
Aussi, Robert Ward Shepherd, Charles Gibb et Catherine Jane Oakley or Ferguson sont nommés exécuteurs testamentaires. Si sa nièce se remarie, elle perd ce pouvoir.
Également, les anciens testaments sont révoqués.
- Un ajustement du point 46 est proposé dans une annexe datée du 27 mai 1877.
* Leduc 1963 Aux origines du MBAM p. 38:
- Reproduction en annexe d'une lettre rédigée par l'exécuteur testamentaire R. W. Shepherd à l'AAM. (p.38)
- Reproduction en annexe des tableaux donnés (p.129)
- Legs: en 1877, un rapport dénombre 84 peintures, six bronzes et quelques autres oeuvres. (p.43)
- Le catalogue de 1880 ne dénombre que 76 peintures. (p.43)
* Musée McCord:
Fonds de la famille Gibb (P075)
Lovell 1863-1864 (p.137):
* GIBB, BENAIAH, 424 St. Catherine opposite City Councillors
* 1870 :
Il contribue financièrement afin d'aider l'Institut canadien à rembourser sa dette après l'affaire Guibord.
- source: 1870 Annuaire de l'Institut canadien p19
Bütler, Joseph * Lake of the Four Cantons [Autre(s) titre(s): Lake of Four Cantons (AAM1880-09) ] peinture * Lake Wallenstadt [Autre(s) titre(s): Lake of Wallenstadt ] peinture * ! The Grindenwald and Wetterhorn [Autre(s) titre(s): Gindenwald and the Wetterhorn (AAM1880-09)
|||| The Grindenwald (AAM1902)
|||| Grindelwald and the Wetterhorn (Brooke1989p177inv146) ] peinture
Clésinger, Jean Baptiste * Aeneas Carrying His Father From the Destruction of Troy [Autre(s) titre(s): Eneas carrying his Father (AAM1867)
|||| Enneaeas King of Troy, carrying his Father (1877TestamentGibb)
|||| Aenas and Anchises (AAM1902)
|||| Aenas bearing Anchises (AAM1864) ] sculpture * Cleopatra [Autre(s) titre(s): Cleopatra and Sphinxes (AAM1902) ] sculpture
Lorrain, Claude * Landscape (copy from Claude) (copie) [Autre(s) titre(s): Marine View (AAM1880-09,cat.69; AAM1902)
|||| Copy from Claude [Claude Gelée, dit Claude Lorrain] (AAM1880-09) ] peinture
Moormans, Franz * The Necklace [Autre(s) titre(s): Wedding Presents (1877TestamentGibb)
|||| A Love Token (AAM1881)
|||| Le Cadeau de Noce (AAM1902) ] peinture
Raphael * ! La Sainte Vierge au Chardonneret (copie) [Autre(s) titre(s): Holy Family with a Bird (1877TestamentGibb)
|||| Copy from Raphaël (AAM1880-09)
|||| The Madonna del Cardellino (AAM1902) ] peinture * ! Madonna della Seggiola (copie) [Autre(s) titre(s): Copy from Raphaël (AAM1880-09)
|||| The Madonna della Sedia (AAM1902)
|||| La Vierge à la chaise (Wikipedia) ] peinture
Salentin, Hubert * Grandma's Pancakes [Autre(s) titre(s): Old woman making Pancakes (1877testamentGibb) ] peinture * His Portrait [Autre(s) titre(s): The Letter (1877testamentGibb) ] peinture
Tennant, John Frederick * Eyott on the Thames [Autre(s) titre(s): View on the Thames (AAM1880-09)
|||| Eyott on the Thames, near Henley (AAM1902)
|||| Eyott on the Thames, Henley in the distance (1877testamentGibb) ] peinture
van Schendel, Petrus * Joseph and the Virgin Mary [Autre(s) titre(s): The central figures in van Schendel's pictures of the "Adoration of the Shepherds" (AAM1879)
|||| Saint Joseph and the Virgin Mary (AAM1902) ] peinture * Market Scene in Holland (Moonlight) [Autre(s) titre(s): Marché Hollandaise, effet de Lume et de Lumière (1877TestamentGibb)
|||| Market Scene in Antwerp (Moonlight) (AAM1880-09)
|||| Market Scene, Antwerp, Moonlight (AAM1902) ] peinture
Verheyden, François * A Pinch of Snuff [Autre(s) titre(s): La prise de tabac (1877testamentGibb) ] peinture * ! The Confidant [Autre(s) titre(s): La Confidence (1877testamentGibb)
|||| La Confidante (AAM1902) ] peinture * The School Mistress' Fête Day [Autre(s) titre(s): Fête de la Maîtresse d'Ecole (1877testamentGibb)
|||| The School Mistress' Fête (AAM1902) ] peinture
Verschuur, Wauterus * A Wayside Inn in Flanders [Autre(s) titre(s): A Wayside Town in the Walloon, Flemish horses (1877testamentGibb)
|||| A Wayside Inn, Flanders (AAM1902)
|||| Flemish Horses at Wayside Inn (1870AAM) ] peinture
Wagner, T. * Hawking [Autre(s) titre(s): The Châtelaine (AAM1902) ] peinture
Webb, James * ! Ehrenbreitstein (on the Rhine) [Autre(s) titre(s): Erinbreitstein, on the Rhine (1877testamentGibb)
|||| Ehrenbreitstein on the Rhine (AAM1902) ] peinture
Wester, Willem * A View Near Haarlem (Holland) [Autre(s) titre(s): View Near Harleem, (Holland) (AAM1880-09)
|||| View near Harlaam (Holland) (AAM1881)
|||| Near Haarlem, Holland (AAM1902)
|||| Near Haarlem (Holland), Evening (Brooke1989p237inv1275) ] peinture * Winter Scene in Holland [Autre(s) titre(s): Skating in Holland (1877TestamentGibb)
|||| A Winter Scene in Holland (AAM1902) ] peinture
