Iacurto, Francesco

Born in Montreal to Italian immigrant parents, Francesco Iacurto is one of Quebec’s most prolific and respected figurative painters. A true master of plein air painting, he has devoted more than seventy years of his life to capturing the light and vibrancy of urban and rural landscapes, becoming one of the few artists to have earned unanimous acclaim from both the public and his peers.

Iacurto’s philosophy is rooted in a celebration of life and beauty. Trained by masters such as William Brymner and Marc-Aurèle de Foy Suzor-Côté, he believed that art must uplift the soul. He sought to paint the clarity of daylight, the vibration of the air, and the harmony of places, convinced that nature offers a perfection that one need only know how to look for.

Like the Impressionists, he often painted en plein air, capturing the play of light on the cobblestones of Old Quebec or the reflections of the Laurentians. In addition to his landscapes, he was a sought-after portraitist, capable of capturing not only the features but also the temperament of his subjects with great elegance. His paintings are recognizable by their exceptional luminosity. He used pure colors to create warm atmospheres, even in his famous snow scenes.

Although born in Montreal, he settled in Quebec City in 1938 and became the iconic painter of the Old Capital, whose every alley and park he glorified.