Carmelite Monastery, Santa Clara Thursday, May 25, 2017

The Carmelite Monastery was truly, as described by Marilyn, an oasis of tranquility. For a painter the grounds have plenty of interesting views and subjects including a beautiful chapel, bell tower, small garden, and a large olive grove.  

The Carmelite Monastery is a City of Santa Clara Historical Landmark. Also known as the Bond Ranch, the site was originally owned by Judge Hiram Graham Bond between 1885 -1906 and then purchased by Senator James Phelan in 1913. The monastery was consecrated in 1917 for Carmelite nuns in memory of Senator Phelan’s sister. The buildings were designed by Maginnis & Walsh and the plans for the chapel won first prize at the 1925 Paris International Exposition. It is considered an excellent example of new world Spanish Renaissance Ecclesiastical architecture. It is said that Jack London was a frequent visitor of the ranch and the location was inspiration for his novel “Call of the Wild”.

Link to Carmelite   
Link to 2014 Carmelite blog

Inside the Carmelite Monastery Chapel

Cindy and Lisha

Karen in the olive grove

Grace

Marilyn 

Lisha

Anu

Ready, set, paint.

Marilyn's painting of the Chapel

Grace’s painting of the chapel 

Iris’s painting of the cloister

Joy’s painting of the olive grove

Cindy’s painting of the bell tower

Helen's Painting

Broncha's painting

Karen’s painting

 John’s painting

Jane’s painting