Topic: Sculpture in the city

https://walksonhampsteadheath.co.uk/scu … -the-city/

William

Re: Sculpture in the city

Walks on Hampstead Heath wrote:

Round the corner in Cullum Street we find Bram Ellens’ Orphans. A ‘family’ made entirely of discarded paintings belonging to people now dead that the artist retrieved from thrift stores, bric a brac shops and undertakers so that he could give them a new life ‘containing the energy of the original artist and the attachment of the deceased owner.’

Hmm … I don’t think “people now dead that the artist retrieved from thrift stores, bric a brac shops and undertakers” is quite what the writer meant to say! https://punster.me/images/laugh.gif

"Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?"
― Tennessee Williams

Re: Sculpture in the city

Alfred wrote:

Hmm … I don’t think “people now dead that the artist retrieved from thrift stores, bric a brac shops and undertakers” is quite what the writer meant to say! https://punster.me/images/laugh.gif

Her phrasing is particularly unfortunate, since she goes on to say “so that he could give them a new life”. https://punster.me/images/ohmy.gif

"Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?"
― Tennessee Williams

Re: Sculpture in the city

But you have missed out the preposition "to" before the word "people" so you are treating the word "people" as in the nominative case, whereas the word "to" in the original text puts it in the dative case.

William

Re: Sculpture in the city

William wrote:

But you have missed out the preposition "to" before the word "people" so you are treating the word "people" as in the nominative case, whereas the word "to" in the original text puts it in the dative case.

William

No, I’m not treating the word “people” as being in the nominative case, but even if I were the inclusion of the word “to” wouldn’t address the problem here. Saying “to people now dead that the artist retrieved …” doesn’t make it any better.

"Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?"
― Tennessee Williams

Re: Sculpture in the city

What wording would you suggest such that the effect that you perceive is not present?

William

Re: Sculpture in the city

William wrote:

What wording would you suggest such that the effect that you perceive is not present?

William

Something like this:

Round the corner in Cullum Street we find Bram Ellens’ Orphans. A ‘family’ made entirely of discarded paintings that the artist retrieved from thrift stores, bric a brac shops and undertakers so that he could give them a new life ‘containing the energy of the original artist and the attachment of the deceased owner’, paintings previously belonging to people now dead.

"Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?"
― Tennessee Williams