St Johns

Albert Seaman's Paintings, Drawings and Essays

Storm over St. John's

St. John's Anglican Church, Peggy's Cove, N.S.

Watercolour on Arches 140 lb CP paper. Image size 12" (30.5 cm) by 16" (40.6 cm) © 1989

This painting was inspired by a visit to Peggy's Cove just after a storm had passed through the area in September of 1989. A break in the weather allowed the endless busloads of scenery-saturated tourists to be herded through yet another highlight of their compressed agenda of maritime attractions. They swarmed over the landscape with clicking cameras to record the charm of the village from every conceivable angle. The fishing harbour and the lighthouse have justifiably been the subjects of untold numbers of paintings and photographs.

Slightly inland from the harbour is this historic church, perched on slightly higher ground than its surroundings. St. John's is famous for two murals, painted by William de Garthe, a Canadian marine artist who lived in Peggy's Cove. Also, A.J. Casson has preserved the image of the building for posterity in a limited edition collectors' plate.

In common with many other buildings in the locality, the church is built upon a solid rock foundation that is visible in the picture. Artistic license has been invoked to invent the rocks in the foreground as a relief from the monotony of the colourful, autumnal weed beds surrounding the building.

Picture status - Available.