"Father Serra's Garden",11x14, oil on linen, Father Junipero Serra, Carmel Mission, Beautiful gardens, Mission gardens, statues of saints, California missions, California art

 "Father Serra's Garden",11x14, oil on linen

Junípero Serra Ferrer, (November 24, 1713 – August 28, 1784) was a Spanish Franciscan friar who founded a mission in Baja California and the first nine of 21 Spanish missions in California from San Diego to San Francisco. He began in San Diego on July 16, 1769, and established his headquarters near the Presidio of Monterey, but soon moved a few miles south to establish Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo in today's Carmel, California.


The missions were primarily designed to bring the Catholic Christian faith to the native peoples. Other aims were to integrate the neophytes into Spanish society, and to train them to take over ownership and management of the land. 

Serra was beatified by Pope John Paul II on September 25, 1988, and Pope Francis canonized him on September 2015 during the Pope's first visit to the United States. I painted a similar version of this garden and statue back then, and it was well received, so I decided to paint the scene again, in a slightly different format.

Whenever I have visited California, it is almost a must for me to visit one or more of Father Serra's missions. They are all tranquil and lovely. My favorite of the missions is Mission Capistrano, which I've painted numerous times, but the Carmel Mission in Carmel, where Father Serra established his residence and is buried, is a close second.

The painting above is of Father Serra's Garden at the Carmel Mission, also known as Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo. It was close to closing time when I was there that day, and the long shadows added an air of mystery to the little garden alcove. Adding to the enchantment, the statue of Father Serra had the smallest slice of butterlike light cascading over his head and down his shoulder, an almost seeming continuation of the rapidly melting late afternoon sunshine that was snaking down the terra cotta roof, where it made a nose dive and finally came to rest over the figure of Father Serra.

I wish the fountain had been on, as the fountain itself was still bathed in that lovely light and a little running water would have added additional drama.

To inquire about this painting, send me an email at maryannejacobsen@aol.com.

"Morning Novena", 11x14, oil, Maryanne Jacobsen art, Carmel mission, Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, Carmel-by-the-sea, Carmel California, Calfornia missions, mission trail

 "Morning Novena", 11x14, oil

When I visited the Carmel Mission in California a few years back, the steeples were under construction.

I have wanted to paint this beautiful church for a while now, but was put off by my reference photo, showing the construction site.

I finally decided to work around the obstacles and this was the result. The day I was there an elderly woman was just exiting the church with her walking stick. I thought about how poignant the scene was, with the devout old lady probably making her daily novena. And that is when I decided on the title.

I usually prefer painting buildings in bright sunlight, but I decided I needed more practice painting buildings in shadow.

If you are ever in the Monterrey peninsula, be sure to visit this serene and lovely mission built way back in 1770 and restored in 1940. It is also called Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, but the Carmelites just call it the Carmel Mission. 

To read more about the mission, just go here.

Thank-you for visiting my blog. Please also visit my website at https://www.maryannejacobsenfineart.com for more California art!

"Father Serra's Garden",11x14, oil on linen, Carmel Mission, Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, California missions, Father Serra cannonization, Pope Francis, gardens, statues, Maryanne Jacobsen art

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"Father Serra's Garden",11x14, oil on linen

Junípero Serra Ferrer, (November 24, 1713 – August 28, 1784) was a Spanish Franciscan friar who founded a mission in Baja California and the first nine of 21 Spanish missions in California from San Diego to San Francisco. He began in San Diego on July 16, 1769, and established his headquarters near the Presidio of Monterey, but soon moved a few miles south to establish Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo in today's Carmel, California.


The missions were primarily designed to bring the Catholic Christian faith to the native peoples. Other aims were to integrate the neophytes into Spanish society, and to train them to take over ownership and management of the land.

Serra was beatified by Pope John Paul II on September 25, 1988, and Pope Francis expects to canonize him in September 2015 during his first visit to the United States. Since this is timely, I thought it would be a good time to post the painting that I did of Father Serra's garden this past summer.

Whenever I visit California, it is almost a must for me to visit one or more of Father Serra's missions. They are all tranquil and lovely. My favorite of the missions is Mission Capistrano, which I've painted numerous times, but the Carmel Mission in Carmel, where Father Serra established his residence and is buried, is a close second.

The painting above is of Father Serra's Garden at the Carmel Mission, also known as Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo. It was close to closing time when I was there that day, and the long shadows added an air of mystery to the little garden alcove. Adding to the enchantment, the statue of Father Serra had the smallest slice of butterlike light cascading over his head and down his shoulder, an almost seeming continuation of the rapidly melting late afternoon sunshine that was snaking down the terra cotta roof, where it made a nose dive and finally came to rest over the figure of Father Serra.

I wish the fountain had been on, as the fountain itself was still bathed in that lovely light and a little running water would have added additional drama.

To inquire about this painting, send me an email at maryannejacobsen@aol.com.