Rene Joseph Menard Paintings

René Menard was not an artist in the traditional sense of painting or sculpture, but rather a French Jesuit missionary and explorer in New France, now part of Canada. His exact birth year is not known, but it is believed that he was born around 1604 or 1605 in Paris, France. Menard joined the Jesuit order and was sent as a missionary to New France in the 1640s. He worked primarily with the Huron and Iroquois people, learning their languages and customs in order to proselytize and minister to them.

Menard's mission work was fraught with the difficulties of frontier life, including conflicts between European colonists and Indigenous peoples, as well as the challenges of living in a harsh and unfamiliar environment. Despite these obstacles, he is noted for his commitment to his faith and his dedication to the people he served.

In 1660, Menard embarked on a mission to the western Great Lakes region, an area largely unexplored by Europeans at that time. He aimed to reach the Huron refugees who had fled there following their defeat by the Iroquois. During this expedition, Menard and his companions faced numerous hardships, including scarce resources and difficult terrain.

René Menard's death is shrouded in mystery. In the summer of 1661, while attempting to locate a group of Huron near Keweenaw Bay in present-day Michigan, he disappeared. It is believed that he died during this expedition, possibly drowning in a river or succumbing to the elements. His exact date of death is not recorded, but he is commemorated for his pioneering role in the exploration of the Great Lakes region and his selfless devotion to his missionary work.