A Painting of the Homestead of Daniel LeBlanc

Canadian artist Daniel LeBlanc of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada, has created a watercolor depicting the farm and family of Daniel LeBlanc and Francoise Gaudet in Port Royal in 1671. Great care was taken to make it as historically correct as possible in light of the fact that it is not known what they or their home looked like in 1671. The artist visited the site where Daniel built his home at Belleisle in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia so that he could paint the North Mountain as the patriarch's saw it in the distance behind his homestead. Using the information from the Royal Census of 1671, he painted all of the children the ages they would have been in 1671 and included the 18 cows and 26 sheep he is recorded as having in that year. Basically the painting illustrates the patriarch, Daniel and three of his sons, Antoine, Rene and Etienne, waiting for the oldest, Jacques, to return from hunting before going to their fields to make hay. Andre is off to chase the neighbor's three stray cattle off of their land and Pierre, the youngest, is in the wood pile. The mother is sitting on the front step sewing and the only daughter, Francoise, is in the garden weeding. The artist interviewed an archeologist at University Ste. Anne, Marc Lavois, and a clothing historian at the Acadian Village in Caraquet, Louise Legacy, to ensure that the home, yard and clothing were typical of the time period. The print is a "limited edition" print, and is numbered and signed by the artist (more info here). Prints are approximately 12 x 16 inches and are shipped in a tube together with an explanation of the painting and a short factual account of what we know about Daniel LeBlanc. A brief description of each of his children and who they married is included. Daniel's grandchildren's names are listed under each parent and included is when the grandchildren died and where they were buried which illustrates where they may have been deported to after 1755. The print and explanation sell for $49.95 (CDN). They can be purchased by contacting Daniel LeBlanc by email at: dan.leblanc@strait.ednet.ns.ca. or by phone at: 1-902-863-9369.