Born on October 23, 1913, in Montmagny, Quebec, Canada, Jacques Béchard was a prolific painter influenced by Impressionists such as Marc-Aurèle de Foy Suzor-Côté, Frederick Simpson Coburn, and Clarence Gagnon, to name a few. He graduated with a diploma in drawing instruction from the School of Fine Arts in Montreal under Charles Maillard in 1935—alongside artists like Stanley Cosgrove and Jean Palardy—after winning first prize in Artistic Anatomy the previous year. He was also a draftsman, illustrator, and owner of the Studio d'Art Indépendant, where he taught commercial drawing through a very extensive correspondence course that included studio classes and plein air painting.

 

In addition to his passion and immense talent for oil painting, Jacques Béchard created works in gouache, watercolor, pencil, India ink, ceramic, and even occasionally sculpted. During the Second World War, he worked as a drafstman for the Cherrier plants in St-Paul-l'Ermite, Quebec, where he created over 300 drawings depicting detonators, cartridges, bombs, shells, depth charges, and more. He was also responsible for illustrating each department of the vast manufacturing complex. To see an example of his work for the Cherrier plants, click here.

 

He passed away on March 15, 1962 at the age of 48, just as he was beginning to gain national recognition in the visual arts.

 

Jacques Béchard is listed at the National Gallery of Canada.