A Familiar View
A few weeks ago esteven pointed me towards The Sea Painter's World, a recent publication from maritime artist Geoff Hunt which includes this rather lovely picture of HMS Hotspur off Brest. What caught my eye wasn't the Hotspur herself though, but the promontory on her larboard quarter. That is Conguet Point or Le Conquet, with the ruins of the St Mathieu's monastery clearly visible on the headland.
HMS Hotspur off Brest by Geoff Hunt
And the reason I recognised this scene instantly is that I have a print of the very same view by J. T. Serres hanging on the wall beside me here. This is an original print from Serres' The Little Sea Torch which was published in 1801 and includes many of the coastal profiles Serres recorded during the time he spent with the inshore squadron in 1800. Sorry the picture is a bit ropey, the print is framed behind glass, it's much clearer and brighter than it appears here.
The Ruins of the Monastery of St Matthieu converted into a Lighthouse, bearing N 3/4 W by JT Serres
And here's Pointe Saint-Mathieu as it appears today. The monastery was built in the 12th century, allegedly from the flotsam and jetsam of ships wrecked around the coast. It's still there today, and nearby is the site of the Mémorial national aux marins morts pour la France, or the national memorial for sailors who died for France.
Pointe Saint-Mathieu
I'd love to visit one day, and if I do ever get to go, I want to stay here - Hostellerie de la Pointe Saint-Mathieu :)
HMS Hotspur off Brest by Geoff Hunt
And the reason I recognised this scene instantly is that I have a print of the very same view by J. T. Serres hanging on the wall beside me here. This is an original print from Serres' The Little Sea Torch which was published in 1801 and includes many of the coastal profiles Serres recorded during the time he spent with the inshore squadron in 1800. Sorry the picture is a bit ropey, the print is framed behind glass, it's much clearer and brighter than it appears here.
The Ruins of the Monastery of St Matthieu converted into a Lighthouse, bearing N 3/4 W by JT Serres
And here's Pointe Saint-Mathieu as it appears today. The monastery was built in the 12th century, allegedly from the flotsam and jetsam of ships wrecked around the coast. It's still there today, and nearby is the site of the Mémorial national aux marins morts pour la France, or the national memorial for sailors who died for France.
Pointe Saint-Mathieu
I'd love to visit one day, and if I do ever get to go, I want to stay here - Hostellerie de la Pointe Saint-Mathieu :)