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High Clifts
I began imagining this scene when I learned that my painting of the Carmelites' arrival, entitled The Landing, might not show the original site. Sister John at Mount Carmel graciously supplied me the results of their extensive research, and I soon discovered that the source suggesting another site was incorrect. Meanwhile I’d already spent a good deal of time combing Charles County land records, wills, and genealogies and imagining a scene oriented east. Mother Bernardina’s letter recounting theCarmelites' journey from present day Belgium to Port Tobacco, simply says they arrived safe at “Mr. Bobby Brent’s landing," and there was no Mr. Bobby Brent's landing on the eastern shore of the river. But, I had fallen in love with the scene and this is the painting that appeared. I selected a larger sloop with topsails for this painting and positioned it offshore of the present-day Loyola on the Potomac Jesuit Retreat House. I have visited this location many times on land and in a boat. The view from the tops of the cliffs looking west over the Potomac and Port Tobacco is truly inspiring. The area was originally patented by John Jarboe of St Mary’s County and named High Cliffs. Another painting, Where Rivers Meet shows this magnificent juncture from about a mile further north at present day Mount Air then the home of Ignatius Matthews. The Carmelites spent their first week in Maryland as Mr. Matthews’ guests. Its probably not fair to say “guests,” for with the exception of Sister Clare Joseph from London, the other travelers were home.
Note: Available archaeological work suggests that there were few docks or wharfs as we know them along these two rivers in the eighteenth-century, so most cargo and people were routinely carried to and from shore in smaller boats often called ‘lighters.” Many were flat-bottomed, shallow-draft, and rectangular in shape made specially to carry the great hogsheads used to transport tobacco and other goods.
Oil on canvas 24x36 inches
Note: Available archaeological work suggests that there were few docks or wharfs as we know them along these two rivers in the eighteenth-century, so most cargo and people were routinely carried to and from shore in smaller boats often called ‘lighters.” Many were flat-bottomed, shallow-draft, and rectangular in shape made specially to carry the great hogsheads used to transport tobacco and other goods.
Oil on canvas 24x36 inches