Born in Hungary in 1919, the Canadian sculptor Paul Lancz studied at the Budapest School of Fine Arts and worked for three years with the internationally renowned Hungarian sculptor Szigmond Kisfaludy Strobl. Lancz moved to Canada in 1956. Much of his production consisted of busts of well-known politicians and artists. In 1967, he presented a bust of Israeli prime minister David Ben Gurion to the Israel Pavilion for the Montréal World Fair. Among the other busts that he produced were those of eminent Montréal figures, including Abraham Bronfman, Armand Frappier, Alexis Nihon, and René Lépine. He died in Montréal in 2005.
Artwork description
This bust of Joseph Beaubien sits in Parc Beaubien, bordering Chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine. The land for the park was deeded to the Ville d’Outremont by Beaubien’s family after his death. The plan for this monument was instigated and executed by the Beaubien family and the Société d’histoire d’Outremont to pay tribute to Beaubien and underline the duration of his mandate as mayor, during which he contributed greatly to the development of the Ville d’Outremont after its foundation. This larger-than-life bust testifies to the community’s recognition of Beaubien’s work. To transmit to future generations the quest for excellence and social engagement that characterized his life, the sculptor, Paul Lancz, immortalized him in bronze, a slight smile on his lips to signal his pride in all of his accomplishments. In a broader perspective, this bust pays tribute to all the builders who participated in the development and growth of Outremont over the years.