Madame Bolduc had trouble with her heart from time to time. Her problems were severe enough that she was given last rites. This “sick call” box served to hold a set of objects the priest used to administer the Sacrement of Extreme Unction to a person facing death. The upper section features a pieta, a small sculpture of the Virgin Mary holding on her knees the body of Jesus Christ after he died on the cross. The lower compartment bears a reproduction of the Last Supper by Leonardo de Vinci. It held the objects needed to administer the last rites: a crucifix, a paten inscribed with the letters IHS, a spoon, three embroidered serviettes, a bottle of holy water and an alter booklet.

Trousse de visite aux malades – bois, chêne; fibre; métal, bronze; verre; plâtre – 58,3 x 33,7×11 cm – 1984.21.107.1 – Musée de la Gaspésie

Very pious, Madame Bolduc was devoted to Saint Thérèse de l’Enfant-Jésus. Recognisable by the rose-embellished cross she holds in her hands, she was the artist’s favourite saint, according to her daughter Fernande. Moreover, she owned many images of this saint including these two magnificent oval portraits, one sculpted and the other painted. Being so small, they were surely easy to take along on her numerous road trips.

Médaille religieuse – verre; papier; métal, laiton – 8,5x5x0,3 cm – 1992.21.41 – Musée de la Gaspésie

This small statue of Saint Thérèse de l’Enfant-Jésus stood on a small wooden side table, painted green, on which a votive candle burned at all times, according to her daughter Fernande.

Statuette religieuse – plâtre; peinture – 31x10x8,5 cm – 1984.21.32 – Musée de la Gaspésie