If he wasn’t quizzing his mother or scanning her photo albums, he was asking local characters about their favorite tales, oftentimes following leads to obscure locations throughout southwest Louisiana.
This was the case with Oak and Pine Alley, a magnificent stretch of trees planted by Charles Durand, a local sugar cane farmer, in the early nineteenth century in St. Martinville.
George was familiar with the wedding story of Durand’s daughters, and he sought out the alley for further inspiration. (Oak and Pine Alley pictured above as George saw it in the mid-1970s and below as it stands today, following several major hurricanes).
From Memories of St. Martinville by Charles Larroque (1999, Pelican Publishing):
“Oak and Pine Alley was planted by the slaves of Charles Jerome Durand around 1829. The three-mile alley leading from the Bayou Teche to Durand’s house was a veritable landmark, leaving no doubt as to the social position of the property owner. Like the sugarcane he planted, Durand’s imagination knew no bounds. The plantation family was awakened each morning by servants spraying perfumed mists. After baths in scented waters, daily routines began with promenades in gold-ornamented carriages rivaling even those of Versailles.
In 1850, on the occasion of the simultaneous weddings of his two daughters, Durand’s slaves decorated the arboreal alley in a manner befitting his most eccentric nature. Prolific web-spinning spiders were brought in (some say from the nearby Atchafalaya Basin, others say from as far away as China) and were released in the trees to go about their arachnidan business. Then slaves went to their task of coating the dewy, billowing webs with gold and silver dust blown from bellows. And under this splendidly shimmering canopy proceeded the ethereal promenade of the wedding party and its two thousand guests.”
George painted The Cajun Bride of Oak Alley (1974, 24×32 inches, oil on canvas) based on this story. By her solitary stance, however, she also references Evangeline, as though waiting for her lover, her Gabriel, beneath the oaks. Typical of figures in his Cajun style, the bride is timeless, a ghost not shadowed beneath the tree as one would expect, but rather brightly lit and all in white.
He rendered her this way not only because it is her wedding day, but also because she glows with her culture. She stands facing the alley, with her back to the Bayou Teche. It appears that she is cut out and pasted onto the oak tree, pasted onto Louisiana, forever captured by both a magical story and a romantic painter.
Wendy
For more Rodrigue paintings related to St. Martinville see the posts “Musicians” (specifically the part about the Romero Brothers, one-third into the essay) and “A History of Evangeline in Rodrigue Paintings”
I’ve avoided commercialism in this blog; however I would feel remiss if I did not tell you that George recently created a silkscreen print of “The Cajun Bride of Oak Alley.” Early lithographs of his Cajun paintings are dark and without the contrasts of the original canvases. Today’s technology, however, allows him to reproduce these works as never before, as fine art silkscreens. “The Cajun Bride of Oak Alley” is one of only five early paintings reproduced in this way. The others are The Aioli Dinner, Jolie Blonde, Kiss Me, I’m Cajun, and Doctor on the Bayou. For further information on the history of these works, visit their links above, especially The Aioli Dinner, which also details the new printing process. For information on the prints and their availability contact the Rodrigue Gallery
Finally, if you’ve been waiting to see Tabitha Soren’s photographs from our recent session, they are now posted in the essay “Nature Girl (The Art of Modeling)”
I have long admired Mr. Rodrigue's beautiful and soulful Cajuns. Many years ago one of the prints I bought was a "Toast to Broadway." The first time I returned to New Orleans after the storm there was a print of Jole Blonde available that I was able to purchase and bring back to Galveston with me. In May of this year I returned to New Orleans, as I do as often as possible, with the intention of buying an Evangeline print. She has been my favorite for many years but there are not many available. I thought this trip might be my last as I was scheduled to have surgery on my return home for three brain aneurysms. On my way to the gallery I stopped for breakfast at a place I had heard about called Stanley. As I sat at my table to my delight I saw Mr. Rodrigue across the room at the counter. As we left I was able to tell him I admired his work, he was gracious enough to say thank you and shake my hand.
When we arrived at the gallery we found that a print had been released from the Hurricane series and it touched my heart so after all we had been through with Hurricane Ike here and Katrina there that I decided that would be the print to bring back home with me. On our drive home we drove through the Bayou Teche and Saint Martinville, what a magnificent journey!During my recovery I am surrounded by my Cajun prints and one hurricane. I plan at some point to return to New Orleans for Evangeline. I thank you for your wonderful writing and thank Mr. Rodrigue for sharing his talent and soul with us.
Oh Georgia, what a beautiful vignette! Thank you for sharing your 'Rodrigue journey' with us. I read your comments to George late last night, and we are both touched by your connection to his work. Interestingly enough, you also sparked a conversation regarding his Evangeline paintings and how best to reproduce her in a new silkscreen. It would not surprise me to see a new edition within the year.
I hope you saw the link "Evangeline" under POPULAR MUSINGS to the right of this post. It is full of images of the Cajun heroine.
Many thanks again for writing in, and especially for your enthusiasm for George's artwork. With best wishes during your recovery – Wendy
Well Wendy was I excited to read your post of Oak and Pine Alley. Being George's High School Classmate all those years is always an interesting subject of conversation between friends of mine. Ha! Here is what excited me: My mother was a Durand from St. Martinville, La. and the youngest of seven children. Charles Durand was my Great…..Grandfather. He was married twice w/ 13 children coming from each marriage. I am out of the second 13. We have taken many friend and family members for their picture in front of the sign you posted. Every time I go home to New Iberia, I end up taking a trip back in time to Oak and Pine Alley and to visit Grandfather's grave in the St. Martinville Cemetery. My mother and father are buried very close to his.
So now you can see why your writings are all so special, not only because they are good but because many of them bring back so many memories. Best ever to you and George and keep up the good charity work you do.
Gary Reed…I am also a descendant of Charles Durand. I am the Daughter of Howard Louis de la Houssaye…His Mother,my Grandmother was a Durand. They were both from St Martinville, Louisiana. I heard the story many times growing up from my Aunts.