Our Roman Pasts by Michael Hartwig

Author:Michael Hartwig
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: LGBTQ Fiction, Gay Romance, Rome, Michael Hartwig, Travel Fiction Italy
Publisher: Herring Cove Press
Published: 2021-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine – Excavations

Bruno unpacked his paints and brushes and leaned the canvas on the easel. He found a piece of shade under which to stand with the architectural fragment resting in the nearby sun. There was a haze in the air, making it easier for Bruno to imagine a more impressionistic background.

The capital laid at the edge of a clay walkway lined with dry yellow grass. Just beyond the fragment there was a verdant green lawn and stately umbrella pines. Bruno blocked in some of the darker background and idealized the lines of the walkway so that they pointed toward the lone piece of brick and marble.

He mixed several colors together to create the white he would use for the marble, a warm white, one that represented morning sunlight with hints of vermillion and permanent rose. He tentatively sketched the piece with a thin brush and gray paint.

Quickly the composition came together, and Bruno was confident it would proceed as envisioned. While Bruno usually did some initial sketches to guide his work, he had learned to let the paintings lead the way – a process where light, shadow, and form appeared as if by magic. He felt as if he were a channel for something wanting to be revealed.

The architectural fragment at Ostia was, as he had remarked several times, haunting. Even Julian noticed it. He wasn’t sure what that meant, but he expected that as he worked, something would come to him.

He stood back, squinted, then refocused. He had managed to get the values of light and shadow down nicely, and he was happy with the texture and movement of elements. He took a break, reaching into his canvas bag for water. He took a long sip as tourists gathered, looking at his work.

He chatted with some visitors from other parts of Europe and many from the States. He watched a squadron of archaeologists march nearby, probably heading to the active site where they found the codex. He thought of Julian and wondered what he discovered as he read Aurelius’s journal.

He laughed as he recalled their day together. Julian was so modest and shy and seemingly uncomfortable with sexual ambiguity. As they dined and Julian talked about his family, Bruno wondered if he wasn’t certifiably straight. He was the classic scholar – buried deep in his work and oblivious to the efforts of others to seduce him.

He set his water bottle down on a ledge and turned back to the painting. An odd sensation washed over him – one he hadn’t experienced in some time. It was an uneasiness with the canvas in front of him. He was convinced that capturing the solitary piece was key to a unique work, one that would not only satisfy Julian, but impress his fans as well. But the more he got into the work, the less certain he was of how to finish it.

He peeked at the palette. His customary colors weren’t working. He would need to mix new hues. The angle of light was off.

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