Page 26, Line 26 by Bob Harvey
Inspired by page 26, line 26 of 'Dancers on a Plane' by John Cage, Merce Cunningham, and Jasper Johns.
The right hand side of the drawing shows an arm. "Mon Dieu," said the Professor, "when did you get this Louis?" "Monsieur, I found it in D'Urville papers in that large folder. After his death in that wretched train the King asked me to bring all his papers to the Committee. This sketch is his, I am sure. He was so careful with his work always. It's proof that the statue had an arm when the farmer dug her up.” “So where is the missing arm Professor?” “I and my assistant looked in the great store room. There are hundreds of Marble pieces arms and legs and heads, none have her beauty. Surly D'Urville did not break it off when he and his men were loading on the cart with the Oxen. We know the statue was so heavy and they struggled bringing it down. She was wrapped in his ship's canvas and she came as she was found with the earth on her folds. He ordered her to be transported on the top deck. She was not untied till he berthed his vessel on the Seine. I did hear him tell the King they encountered a fierce storm in The Bay Of Biscay. But the ropes held tight and secure. The Melos' arm was found close by. Always loose. Broken off in the distance past . On the trip home he did this sketch. Look how he's drawn the fingers outstretched. No apple, no branch. They reach out to The Heavens.”
He was thinking deeply… he turned sharply to Louis. “The King must not be told about this Sketch. Louis I order you. Burn it!”
Bob Harvey