Beautiful figurines

Charlevoix's Christmas santons

Santons, or manger figurines, are part of any Nativity scene, but those made by Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive artist Bernard Boivin are special: they’re individually cast from moulds and painted entirely by hand. His Québec Nativity scene blends traditional manger figurines, first seen in 18th-century Italy, with typical characters and architectural elements from the Charlevoix region.

In creating his figurines, the artist remains true to Provençale custom, taking inspiration from the region’s traditional occupations and crafts, as well as its colourful history and legends. His cast of characters is made complete with the addition of animals and buildings of all kinds. Boivin’s workshop is located at 303 Rue de l’Église, Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive.

André Quenneville
2007-11-20