FR ES
Back to List

Raoul Hunter. Sculptor Deceased+

The Providence family sadly learned that sculptor and cartoonist Raoul Hunter deceased in Quebec City, on December 10, 2018, at the age of 92. We remember that this prolific sculptor is the author of the Mother Émilie Gamelin Monument that thousands of people greet each day at the Berri UQAM subway station in Montreal.

He was the fifth of nine children of Mathieu Hunter and Philomène Chouinard, farmers from Saint-Cyrille-de-Lessard in the County of L’Islet, Province of Quebec. Young 11-year-old Raoul won a prize in a drawing competition of the Quebec City newspaper, Le Soleil. In 1949, after his classical course, he entered the Quebec City School of Fine Arts. He graduated in 1953 with a degree in Decorative Arts (specialty, sculpture) and a teaching license in drawing. Recipient of a scholarship in Paris, he obtained a degree in History of the Arts from the Louvre School. Back in Quebec City in 1955, he taught drawing and in 1956, besides his teaching duties, he became a cartoonist and editor for the newspaper Le Soleil, a position he held for 33 years.

Renowned sculptor, Raoul Hunter won the tender from the City of Montreal, for the preparation of a monument dedicated to Emilie Gamelin, to be placed at the entrance of the Berri-UQAM Metro, on Sainte-Catherine St. He worked at this project from 1996 to 2000, with Mrs. Francine Lord, as spokesperson for the city of Montreal, and Sr. Thérèse Frigon, SP and Mrs. Danielle Jasmin, representing the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence. The monument was unveiled on May 25, 2000, year of the 200th anniversary of birth of Emilie Tavernier-Gamelin.

The day preceding the Beatification of Mother Gamelin, at dinner in Rome, Mr. Hunter was visibly surprised and moved when he received the scarf that pilgrims were to wear at the beatification ceremony: “his” monument was reproduced on the scarf!

In 2006, Providence Medical Center, in Portland, Oregon ordered a similar statue for hospitals of the American West. Permission was granted by the author and by the city of Montreal, providing that some slight change be made to the monument. That’s why the author added bread in the hand of Mother Gamelin and a few loaves in her basket. The work was finished in June 2007, in three different heights: four, five and six feet.

The Provincial House in Edmonton, Providence Center, acquired one of these statues, and a celebration was prepared for its installation in the Chapel, on June 22, 2007.

On February 16, 2011, Mr. Raoul Hunter accompanied by his son, Denis, visited Sister Thérèse Frigon to extend their gratitude. On this occasion, he paid respect by offering the book Le trait dans tous ses états, published in 2010, whose author was his son, Denis. This precious souvenir is kept in the Archives of the Office of the Cause of Emilie Gamelin.

Following the death of his father and acknowledging the condolences from Sister Karin Dufault, Mr. Denis Hunter paid a touching homage, “Making the statue of Emilie Gamelin was a capital step in my father’s career. I think that his artist hands were not only guided by an esthetic quest, but also by a spiritual force. Furthermore, this artwork so well located in the urban space, makes the public understand charity and benevolence, virtues that are more than ever needed in our time.”

The funeral of the deceased was held on December 15, 2018, at Saint-Dominique Church, in Quebec City. A message of sincere condolences was sent to the family, to assure them of the prayers of all the Sisters of Providence.

Sister Yvette Demers, SP,

 Vice Postulator of the Cause of Emilie Gamelin

 

Sources:  Le Devoir, Montréal, Wednesday, December 12, 2018

                 Le Journal de Québec, Thursday, December 13, 2018

Archives of the Office of the Cause of Emilie Gamelin