1
The 13 Most Famous Alfred Pellan Paintings, a Gallery Selection
Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 19 works by Alfred Pellan in our catalogue
In short
Of all the originals Alfred Pellan left, the most famous is Still-life "Cross of Chiniqui" (1941), in the collection of the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa. Close behind it come The Stalker (1956) and The Frontline of Catastrophe (1956). Our catalog holds 19 works by Alfred Pellan; the gallery has kept the 13 the world admires most, each shown with its date, its museum and its story.
1906 – 1988, Quebec City
Most works: National Gallery of Canada
Alfred Pellan's top 10 paintings: the gallery's choice
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
The Alfred Pellan selection continues, 11 to 13
The museums that keep Alfred Pellan's originals
The 2 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Alfred Pellan | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 National Gallery of Canada |
Ottawa | 11 | Still-life "Cross of Chiniqui", The Stalker, The Frontline of Catastrophe |
 Musée Des Beaux |
Québec City | 2 | Enfants de la Grande-Pointe, Charlevoix, Vénus et le taureau |
Alfred Pellan decade by decade: the original that defines each
Works per decade
Pick a decade to see the original that defines it.
Collectors' questions about Alfred Pellan's paintings
Which work is Alfred Pellan most famous for?Reveal the answer
Still-life "Cross of Chiniqui" (1941), National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa. The Stalker (1956) and The Frontline of Catastrophe (1956) come next.
What age was Alfred Pellan when Still-life "Cross of Chiniqui" was made?Reveal the answer
35 years old: Still-life "Cross of Chiniqui" dates from 1941, and Alfred Pellan was born in 1906.
What are the ten most famous Alfred Pellan paintings?Reveal the answer
Still-life "Cross of Chiniqui", The Stalker, The Frontline of Catastrophe, The Basket with a Bow, Girl with Anemones, The Basket of Strawberries, Laughing Mouth, Enfants de la Grande-Pointe, Charlevoix, On the Beach and Blossoming. The ranking above gives each one's year and museum.
How many paintings did Alfred Pellan leave?Reveal the answer
Our catalog holds 19 works by Alfred Pellan, dated from 1932 to 1956.
In which museums do Alfred Pellan's masterpieces hang?Reveal the answer
Mostly in National Gallery of Canada (Ottawa) and Musée Des Beaux (Québec City). The museum table above lists them all.
In which years did Alfred Pellan paint the most famous works?Reveal the answer
In 1930s: 4 of the 13 works on this page were made then, The Basket with a Bow among them.
What are the first and the last famous originals of Alfred Pellan?Reveal the answer
On this page, the earliest is Girl with Anemones (1932) and the latest The Stalker (1956).
Which Alfred Pellan works hang at the National Gallery of Canada?Reveal the answer
Still-life "Cross of Chiniqui", The Stalker and The Frontline of Catastrophe: the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa holds 11 of the works on this page.
Alfred Pellan: life and work
The Life and Art of Alfred Pellan
Born in Quebec City, Canada, Alfred Pellan was a significant figure in twentieth-century Canadian painting. His artistic journey began in his youth, filling the margins of his school notebooks with drawings. After enrolling at the School of Fine Arts of Quebec, he earned medals in various disciplines, including painting, drawing, sculpture, sketching, anatomy, and advertising. His talent was recognized early when he sold his first painting to the National Gallery of Canada at the age of seventeen.
Pellan's training took him to Paris, where he studied at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts and attended sessions at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière and the Académie Colarossi. During his time in Europe, his early canvases displayed a marked Fauvist tendency. He later became known for his involvement with the Surrealist movement, creating imagery that was vivid, striking, and textured. In 1948, he founded the group Prisme d’yeux, which advocated for freedom of expression in art.
Legacy and Recognition
Throughout his career, Pellan engaged in diverse artistic pursuits, serving as a painter, muralist, illustrator, costume designer, professor, and draftsperson. He taught at the École des Beaux-Arts in Montreal and later at the Art Centre of Sainte-Adèle. His work has been featured in significant exhibitions, including a solo exhibition at the Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris and representing Canada at the Venice Biennale in 1952. His notable works include:
Pellan received numerous honors, such as being named a Companion of the Order of Canada and a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. He also received an honorary doctorate from Sir George Williams University. His artistic impact is reflected in various tributes, including streets named after him in several locations such as Montréal, Laval, and Granby.