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The Rock in the Painting

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A few years ago my Godfather, Dr. Alan Finley, after whom I got my first name, was moving into an old folk’s home and getting rid of stuff.  He gave me a call and said he had a painting of the Saguenay and did I want it.  “Sure,” says I, thinking it was probably some little sketch that would do well in a guest bedroom.   “It won’t be soon!” said Alan.  “But I’ll get it to you.”

A couple of months later when I’d forgotten all about it, there appeared this enormous parcel full of a watercolour dating back to 1865.  The guest bedroom got bumped.  It’s now over the fireplace in our new house.

We recognized the location immediately, but thought it would be fun to go to the spot and see if we could stand where the painter must’ve stood  to start his work.  (Only retired people can find time for such things!)

This is the painting by C. J. Way, dated 1865. It is called "Calm on the Saguenay."
This is the painting by C. J. Way, dated 1865. It is called “Calm on the Saguenay.”

It’s hard to see in this photo but there are two native guys with a bow and arrow (and attitude) hiding behind the rock with two possible targets.  One, (my choice) is some ducks you probably can’t make out paddling down the river quite nearby.  Choice number two is a birch bark canoe well to the left but in mid-river with its own selection of paddlers.

This is the same location the way it looks today. We did go at a big low tide so it's surprising that there is so much rock showing beyond the big rock.
This is the same location the way it looks today. We did go at a big low tide so it’s surprising that there is so much rock showing beyond the big rock.

There’s a little artistic license taken here too in that he shrank the island up river so both sides of it would show.  From this location the left side is overlapped by the mountain before it.

I went to do a re-enactment of the two guys hiding behind the rock but it didn't come out for some reason.
I went to do a re-enactment of the two guys hiding behind the rock but it didn’t come out for some reason.  We didn’t try again as already the tide was rising and over my boots!
The view back across the bay of Anse de Roche. The paintings view point was out of sight to the right of this.
The view back across the bay of Anse de Roche. The painting’s view point was out of sight to the right of this.
The cast of characters involved - Heather, Jane and Tom all looking like summer is well over!
The cast of characters involved – Heather, Jane and Tom all looking like summer is well over! It was a blustery day.

Thanks once again (this time post-humously) to my dear Godfather for his usual thoughtfulness and generosity.

We can't resist adding the views from the top of the hill downstream from Anse de Roche. This is St. Etienne for those of you familiar with it.
We can’t resist adding the views from the top of the cliff downstream from Anse de Roche. This is St. Etienne for those of you familiar with it.
This is looking upriver past Pointe aux Crepes.
This is looking upriver past Pointe aux Crepes.

8 thoughts on “The Rock in the Painting”

  1. That is simply amazing Jane to receive a painting and then to be able to go to the spot where it was painted. You and Alan truly live in a beautiful spot and it takes being retired to fully enjoy it. Lots of love to you and Alan from Sim and I.

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  3. That’s a wonderful gift, and so appropriate! I had to do some looking up, because I thought it was called Anse de la Grosse Roche, and here’s what I found (it’s à la, not de la, by the way): http://www.geodata.us/canada_names_maps/maps.php?featureid=EFIKD&f=45
    And while we’re spelling things, it’s Alan Finley (ey, not ay). He was our son, David’s, godfather too! He did some pretty decent paintings himself, as you probably know.
    Love, Jill

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    1. Hiya Jill!
      I always mess up on his name. Must be a character flaw. The Anse de Roche thing though – it was Grosse Roche before but they built the wharf on top of the Grosse Roche so for quite a few years all the signs say Anse de Roche! If you google it you end up in the same place.
      I’m interested to hear Al was David’s God father too. With Alan as a spiritual guide how come he didn’t end up a priest like I did?? When Alan told someone he was going to my ordination the person said, “Wow. You must have done a good jod as a Godfather!` Alan said, “Yeah. I stayed away!“
      Stay well, Alan

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  4. Awesome!! So happy you are so happy in retirement. Wonderful walks, scenery … and I guess you got all the wood stacked ;-)

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