Choose a mood and the room itself answers — the light cools or warms, the air changes pace, and only the works that carry that feeling step forward from the dark. Everything else recedes into shadow.
Early Life, Family and Training Born in 1806 in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, James Duncan began his life in a landscape that would eventually serve as the backdrop for his professional development. He received his artistic training in Ireland, cultivating the foundational skills that would later define his career as a painter and lithographer. Though the specific circumstances of his departure from his homeland remain unclear, he emigra
ted to Lower Canada in 1825, seeking new opportunities in a developing colony. His transition to North American life was marked by the establishment of a permanent home and family. In 1834, he married Caroline Benedict Power, a native of Sorel. Their union provided a sense of stability as he navigated the complexities of a new society. Together, they raised a large family consisting of four boys and three girls, anchoring his presence…