Forum Topic

Where in the world?

Can any of you well-travelled forum members help me identify the place of this painting? The likeliest locations are probably in  Wales, the South-West of England or the South of France. The twin church spires are quite distinctive but so far I have failed to identify the view. Any help gratefully received.

Bruce Hammal ● 264d27 Comments

It's certainly tempting, especially since I have never been to Brittany, but I've only just got  back from a week in Malta. I'll put it on the bucket-list!

Bruce Hammal ● 262d

Bruce, it sounds like a good reason for you to visit Saint-Pol-de-Léon and check out the view for yourself. Perhaps take a photo from the artist's vantage point and then share it with us ?

Richard Greenhough ● 262d

The other tower I was referring to is the building visible between the two trees to the left of the painting. With better resolution than the forum can provide it looks rather like the ruined remnants of the church atop Glastonbury Tor rather than a traditional pepper pot lighthouse, but we must allow for artistic interpretation! Anyway I shall put a label on the back of the canvas firmly identifying Saint-Pol-de-Léon. With again many thanks for your help. I do hate a mystery....

Bruce Hammal ● 262d

You are welcome, Bruce. The third spire/tower in the distance, behind the Spires of the Cathedral, is for the Notre-Dame du Kreisker Chapel. It is 80m high compared to the twin spires of the Cathedral which are 50m.There is a small tower shaped object behind the hill by the sea, which could well be an attempt representation of a nearby lighthouse of which is the area is rich of and of all sizes.

Suzanne Tanswell ● 262d

With a nice large bowl of moules-frites SVP

N V Brooks ● 262d

Fab, thought it had to be Brittany, cidres all round for that!

Russell Pearson ● 262d

...brava !

Roland Bolowski ● 262d

Thank you Suzanne - I knew someone would come up with an answer. The only thing that's bothering me is the tower that's visible in the distance. I would think this must be located on the Ilot Sainte-Anne, but no photographs seem to show this building.

Bruce Hammal ● 263d

Bravo Suzanne.

Denis Ian Fox ● 263d

This view is from Saint-Pol-de-Léon, Departement de Finstere, in Brittany and the Gothic style twin spires are part of the Cathédrale Saint-Paul-Aurélien de Saint-Pol-de-Léon, about a mile away from the sea. It got its name from its founder Saint Paul Aurelian who might well be Saint Paulinus of Wales.

Suzanne Tanswell ● 263d

Bordeux ?The church being Église Saint-LouisA Google satellite view should give an idea ofthe orientation of the church in relation tothe coastline.Which is apparently about 30 miles away. Ooops !michael adams

Michael Adams ● 263d

Bordeux ? The church being Église Saint-LouisA Google satellite view should give an idea of the orientation of the church in relation to the coastline.michael adams

Michael Adams ● 263d

Yes, too far apart I think. Reminds me of Brittany though, the spires there look similar.

Russell Pearson ● 263d

Quimper is a good shout, based on the twin spires. However in the painting they seem to be quite a distance apart rather than side by side. Also I think Quimper is too far from the coast. As for Weymouth, I can't seem to find any spires at all there! Keep trying though folks?

Bruce Hammal ● 263d

Looks a bit like Quimper

Russell Pearson ● 263d

Could it be a single church with two spires? That could mean somewhere in  France

Karen Foster ● 263d

Weymouth ? Guessing

Janice Evans ● 263d

I am not familiar with the work of Vivien John, but do her landscapes always feature real places, rather than made-up ones ?

Richard Greenhough ● 263d

Not Wales. I used to work with the Church in Wales and had an interest in 'coastal' churches. Not aware of any locations with two 'spired' church in such close proximity.

N V Brooks ● 263d

If you can identify the trees would that be a clue.

Janice Evans ● 263d

Judging by the style of the spires, roof coverings of the houses and colour of the sea I would hazard a guess of northern France.

Adrian Irving ● 264d

Judging by the style of the spires, roof coverings of the houses and colour of the sea I would hazard a guess of northern France.

Adrian Irving ● 264d

A bit left field, but the bio of the artist says she was born in Dorset but travelled with her father (Augustus John) to Jamaica, Italy and France so maybe the location could be outside the UK....?

Michael Robinson ● 264d

Mark, I'm not familiar with Reculver, but judging by photographs the painting seems to show somewhere rather more densely occupied. The resolution of the attached image isn't great (website limitations) but as well as the twin spires there is also what appears to be a single tower located on the headland visible between the trees on the left.

Bruce Hammal ● 264d

Thanks Michael - I own the painting so knew the identity of the artist.

Bruce Hammal ● 264d

Reculver?

Mark Frost ● 264d

Google lens says the painting is 'Panoramic View Over a Coastal Town' by Vivien John, 1946 but no indication of the actual location.https://www.mutualart.com/Artwork/Panoramic-View-Over-a-Coastal-Town/422680BD814E4E5E

Michael Robinson ● 264d