This rare and beautiful Portrait Engraving measures approx 10 1/4" by 14 1/4" (sheet size) and features a bust portrait of the Jesuit Missionary in oval with text surrounding the portrait that reads "Le Reverand Pere Paul Le Ieune De La Compagnie De Jesus" (translates: The Reverend Father Paul Le Jeune, The Society of Jesus"). There is extensive text in French below the portrait detailing Le June’s work in French North America and his death 1664. The Portrait was engraved and published by L. Lochon and carries the date of publication in the plate - 1665

    Paul Le Jeune (1591–1664) was a French Jesuit missionary in French Canada. was ordained, and in 1631 he was named superior of the Jesuit mission in Canada. It was then that he journeyed to Quebec and began his religious and educational work in the colony. Le Jeune remained the superior of the Jesuit mission in Canada until 1639 when he was replaced by Father Barthélemy Vimont, but he did not return to France until 1649.

    Perhaps best known for his work with the Native American population, Le Jeune displayed an eagerness for learning various Native American languages. Among his most well-documented experiences are his travels during the winter of 1633-1634 among the Montagnais. While his work during those six months did not result in mass conversions as he had hoped, his ethnographic account of the Montagnais and his personal anecdotes about the cold, hunger, and conflicts he encountered are recorded in “Relations des Jésuites de la Nouvelle-France of 1634”. This is perhaps the most famous of what are commonly known as the Jesuit Relations, which were published in Paris throughout most of the seventeenth century.

    Le Jeune, along with other members of the Jesuit order, was crucial to the colonization of the St. Lawrence Valley. These highly educated Europeans were initially shocked by the egalitarianism and openness of the Hurons and Montagnais they encountered; to the Jesuits, this lack of evident hierarchy seemed chaotic at best. In order to spread cultural and religious values, the Jesuits adopted a militaristic pedagogy which sought to: discredit the traditional shamans, who were generally viewed as the teachers and priests within the Native American communities; to end the nomadic way of life in order to found European institutions such as schools, seminaries, and churches; to establish the supremacy of the written word over oral history.

    Le Jeune and his contemporaries did not limit their efforts in conversions and education to Native Americans. While there were fewer slaves in the French colonies than in the English and Spanish ones, Le Jeune's interactions with African slaves in Quebec set a key precedent that would inspire later generations of priests, teachers, activists, and abolitionists. Despite their imperialistic tendencies, Jesuit dogma viewed all people as equal before God and as having equal need for salvation. Thus, it was incumbent on the Church to provide for the intellectual and spiritual well-being of slaves. Le Jeune himself adopted a very direct approach to this issue. As early as 1634, Le Jeune expressed enthusiasm because he found himself teaching African children the alphabet, and in Volume V of The Jesuit Relations he emphasized the need for Africans to gain sufficient learning and literacy so that they could demonstrate enough of an understanding of Catholic dogma to secure the rite of baptism.

    This wonderful early 19th century portrait of Father Paul Le Jeune came to us as a part of a simply amazing archive of 17th 18th and a few 19th century maps, views and portraits related to the French and British colonies in North America. The Archive was put together in the mid 19th century by a Canadian collector and contains many items of great rarity and beauty. All of the items in this archive are exceptionally well preserved with most exhibiting no wear or damage of any kind. There are over 160 items in this archive and we have been offering these rarities over the past few months as part of our regular, weekly eBay auctions.

     This wonderful Engraving is 100%, unconditionally guaranteed to be an original, 1665 printing and not a restrike, reprint or reproduction. It is in very good condition - clean and crisp and very attractive with no tears, edge chipping, physical damage or repairs of any kind. but trimmed close to the image on all sides (see the scans below). Overall this is an well preserved and very attractive example of this important 17th century view.

     A very rare and very attractive, original 1665 Engraved Portrait of Jesuit Priest and Missionary to North America Father Paul Le Jeune and a fantastic addition to any collection!!

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