When you get advice directly from Jim Waddington (In the Footsteps of the Group of Seven)—you take it. So off we headed to the village of Baptiste.
A.J. Casson painted many of the lakes and villages near where we were camping at Silent Lake Provincial Park. Baptiste, on Baptiste Lake, is one of these charming villages. Jim has it on good authority that Casson painted the Blue Heron in a tiny bay just west of the village. Imagine our delight when we headed out and found the bay along with a Blue Heron. During the rest of our adventure, we were hopelessly lost. But we did find Kawartha Dairy ice cream. A blue heron and ice cream—still a great adventure--don’t you think? You are Always in my Prayers. Love Mom.
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I’m addition to David Milne, several members of The Group of Seven painted in the Bancroft Area. Carol, from the Art Gallery of Bancroft, suggested that A.J. Casson may have painted the Anglican Church on Flint Street. So, of course, off we headed. There are some similarities between the painting and our photo. What do you think?
We were able to nail down a confirmed site near Bancroft in the lovely town of Maynooth. In 2012 a Facebook page was established to save a home painted and sketched by several members of the Group of Seven. The house did survive (now yellow-sided) on their charming main street. Here are a couple of sketches by A.Y. Jackson. This time you can’t miss the similarities. Although we didn’t find a horse and carriage😄 It is quite lovely to roam the streets the artists travelled so many years ago. In a way, they have preserved small-town Canada for us with their paintings of the paths of everyday Canadians. You are Always in my prayers. Love Mom. Summer has arrived. What a perfect time to discover a few new Group of Seven painting locations! As we researched the area near Bancroft, we reached out to Carol at the Bancroft Art Gallery. Although the info we received was not exactly a perfect fit for the Group of Seven, it was research gold—she introduced us to the artist David Milne (1882-1953).
David Milne was a contemporary of the Group of Seven, but he preferred to work as a Group of One. Early in his career, he spent considerable time in the United States. However, after returning to Canada he painted a great deal in the Bancroft area. Milne is credited with bringing European Modernism to North America. I think I can see that influence in his painting of the Catholic Church on Sherbourne Street. That same Catholic Church is now the Old Tin Shed Boutique at No. 25. What a change over time! Another Artist—Another Adventure. You are Always in My Prayers. Love Mom & Dad References: https://www.countryroadshastings.ca/featured-articles-seed/2017/4/25/community-portraits-legendary-artist-milne-captured-essence-of-north-hastings |
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Ray & Diane HomewoodSharing the Blessing of Travel Archives
August 2022
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