- Chateau Dufresne
The former residence of
Marius Dufresne andOscar Dufresne , the Chateau Dufresne was originally divided into two separate households, one for each brother. The founding fathers of the city ofMaisonneuve - now incorporated with the city of Montreal - the famousDufresne brothers were wealthy twentieth century French Canadian entrepreneurs who played a major role in the history ofMontreal . Now used as an historical museum showcasing the Beaux-Arts style architecture and antique furnishings of the formerDufresne residences, the Chateau Dufresne was declared an historic monument by the provincial government in 1976.Designed by the Parisian architect
Jules Renard who based his plans on the Petit Trianon inVersailles ,France , theDufresne mansion was an ambitious project from the get-go. Constructed from 1915 to 1918, the interior of this Gothic-inspired mansion was decorated with a series of beautiful murals and ceiling paintings byGuido Nincheri in the 1920's. Known for his piety and devout religious leanings, the secular subject matter of the Chateau Dufresne's interior decor is an amazing exception to the rest of Nincheri's artistic career. Having served as theMontreal Museum of Decorative Arts from1979 to1997 , the Chateau Dufresne now offers tours of the mansion and also plays host to various temporary art and history exhibitions.Location
Chateau Dufresne is located across the street from the Botanical Garden and Olympic Stadium near Montreal PIE IX metro station.
Resources
* [http://www.chateaudufresne.com Chateaux Dufresne Museum]
* [http://english.montrealplus.ca/portal/profile.do?profileID=558402 Description in English]
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