Almost Composed

The Roses of Heliogabalus

November 8, 2014

The Roses of Heliogabalus by Lawrence Alma-Tadema. The Roses of Heliogabalus We were talking about art and taking wine with our sensuous king when a slave released the canopy and petals – their blush-making softness, their deafening of the skin – continued falling through us. And when the late sun reddened, guards turned the litter […]

A philistine visits Tate St. Ives

September 14, 2014

However spellbinding the exhibitions at the Tate St. Ives, I’ve always felt that nothing can beat the view of Porthmeor beach from the upper gallery. Pulling your attention away from the indigo waves you’ll notice fascinating sculptures and paintings encased in glass, such as Alfred Wallace’s slanted and enchanted daubings of his life at sea. The thought occurred to […]