Antique View of Quebec City from the Water, Canadian Harbor Scene, c.1850

Quebec seen from the St. Lawrence River, an original steel engraving by Lemaitre, headed "Canada" and titled "Québec," with the engraver's credit "Lemaitre direxit" printed below the plate. It was published in France around 1850.

The view looks across the water to the cliff of Cap Diamant, with the fortifications of the Citadel along its crest at the left and the roofs and church spires of the upper town rising at the right. The lower town crowds the shore at the foot of the cliff. Two large sailing ships lie at anchor in the middle distance, flying pennants, with a smaller vessel behind them, and in the foreground a small boat with a triangular sail carries two men toward the viewer. The sky is shaded in light, fine strokes.

Quebec was the principal fortified city of British North America and its harbor, backed by the rock of the Citadel, was the signature view of the city for European artists. The sheet is one of a set of small Canadian views engraved in France for a European audience.