In Rocky Copse (c.1928), Beatty captures not the grandeur of a mountain or lake but the intimacy of a shaded grove. Oil on panel at 10.25 x 13.75 inches, the work draws the eye beneath thick-trunked trees into a green, half-hidden space dappled with light. The foliage is rendered in rich olive and forest greens, deepened with umber, and lifted by flashes of gold while in the shadows, mauves and violets infuse the grove with an air of quiet mystery

Toronto-born in 1869, John William Beatty’s first artistic steps came with his family: his father’s trade in sign and house-painting introduced him early to paint, graphics, and finish. Apprenticed in engraving during his teens, he also served in the Northwest Rebellion and later worked as a firefighter—always painting in his off-hours. These years of balancing work and art formed the foundation of the painter he would become.

The painting carries the feeling of sanctuary. It is a place where one might step inside and disappear into the cool shade, hidden from the world, sheltered by nature’s architecture. Beatty transforms this cluster of trees into something more than landscape, a sanctuary, a green escape, a reminder of the timeless solace found beneath a canopy of leaves.