Imaginary
portrait of Jeanne Mance, 1882, by an unknown artist
Jeanne Mance
(1606-1673) devoted her life to helping the less fortunate. Born in France, she came to
Canada in 1641 and founded the Hôtel-Dieu hospital in Montreal, of which she remained the
head until her death.
No authentic
contemporary image of Jeanne Mance appears to exist. This portrait dating from the late
nineteenth century is an idealized representation which seems to typify the self-sacrifice
and devotion which were seen as critical to the functioning of Canadian society for
centuries.
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