Skip to navigation Skip to content

Search for:

Home
Galleries
- Poetry and stories
Videos
Books and Clothing
Shop
About me
- Blog
- Contact

Home
Galleries
- Poetry and stories
Videos
Books and Clothing
Shop
About me
- Blog
- Contact

£0.00 0 items

Home / Poetry and stories / The Ship of Fools

Posted on March 11, 2019March 11, 2019 by admin

The Ship of Fools

We stood on top of the World
Under the joyful sky,
In thunder and rain and heartache and pain
And the Ship of Fools sailed by…

A part of the Fable and Folklore collection

Category: Poetry and stories

Post navigation

Previous post: Temet Nosce (know thyself)

Next post: The Magician

Search for:

UK orders only

For all overseas shipping please contact me before purchase.

Please get in touch if you are interested in purchasing any of my artwork which is not for sale in this shop.

mr.cronch

'FEATHERDAYS' (acrylic paint on A4 canvas board -

'FEATHERDAYS' (acrylic paint on A4 canvas board - details)
The third piece of celebratory 'bird joy' that has come out of my 14 weeks of lockdown - this one featuring blackbirds and wrens.
Every day I see these little feathery bundles hopping around the patio outside the kitchen window and flitting through the potted plants. Whilst the human world has been falling apart, it's been an absolute joy to see the natural world thriving just outside the front door. (My previous two pieces 'Airborne' and 'Charm of Finches' are still available as a free digital download. Just contact me at phdsbl@hotmail.com)
.
.
.
.
.
#veganartist #painting #britishbirds #featheredfriends #instaart #gardenbirds #artoftheday #creative #beautifulart #arte #instaartist #wildlifeart #acrylicpainting #artsy #acryliconcanvas #instaartsy #instaartistic #artistic #originalart #wildlife #instanature #newartwork #birds #birdstagram #birdportrait #decorativeart #blackbird #wren #jennywren

'FEATHERDAYS' (acrylic paint on A4 canvas board) T

'FEATHERDAYS' (acrylic paint on A4 canvas board)
The third piece of celebratory 'bird joy' that has come out of my 14 weeks of lockdown - this one featuring blackbirds and wrens.
Every day I see these little feathery bundles hopping around the patio outside the kitchen window and flitting through the potted plants. Whilst the human world has been falling apart, it's been an absolute joy to see the natural world thriving just outside the front door. (My previous two pieces 'Airborne' and 'Charm of Finches' are still available as a free digital download. Just contact me at phdsbl@hotmail.com)
.
.
.
.
.
#veganartist #painting #britishbirds #featheredfriends #instaart #gardenbirds #artoftheday #creative #beautifulart #arte #instaartist #wildlifeart #acrylicpainting #artsy #acryliconcanvas #instaartsy #instaartistic #artistic #originalart #wildlife #instanature #newartwork #birds #birdstagram #birdportrait #decorativeart #blackbird #wren #jennywren

'The Three Graces' (acrylic paint on A2 canvas - d

'The Three Graces' (acrylic paint on A2 canvas - details)
Dedicated to Beryl Harvey
2002
.
Three graces in the market stood
Clutching fabric hearts,
While passers-by did weave and sigh
Round donkeys and their carts
.
The morning sun, the heat and sand,
The smell of herbs and fruit,
The slapping sandals, dusty hooves,
The stamp of foreign boots
.
And in this noise and in this place
They stood with silent pride,
A fleeting glimpse of youth and love
With hearts held open wide
.
“We smiled when we saw them,
For it was strange to see –
And which three were the graces?
~ It matters not to me."
.
.
.
.
.
#arabicdesign #arabicfaces #egypt #sunrise #arabic #desertlife #painting #thisisegypt #egyptians #instaart #arte #creative #artistic #instaartist #artoftheday #artsy #arab #acrylicpainting #portraiture #cairo #cairogirls #kasbah #thebluemosque #damascustiles #muslim #muslimartist #decorativeart #beautifulportrait #arabicgirls #acrylicartwork

'The Three Graces' (acrylic paint on A2 canvas) D

'The Three Graces' (acrylic paint on A2 canvas)
Dedicated to Beryl Harvey
2002
.
Three graces in the market stood
Clutching fabric hearts,
While passers-by did weave and sigh
Round donkeys and their carts
.
The morning sun, the heat and sand,
The smell of herbs and fruit,
The slapping sandals, dusty hooves,
The stamp of foreign boots
.
And in this noise and in this place
They stood with silent pride,
A fleeting glimpse of youth and love
With hearts held open wide
.
“We smiled when we saw them,
For it was strange to see –
And which three were the graces?
~ It matters not to me."
.
.
.
.
.
#arabicdesign #arabicfaces #egypt #sunrise #arabic #desertlife #painting #thisisegypt #egyptians #instaart #arte #creative #artistic #instaartist #artoftheday #artsy #arab #acrylicpainting #portraiture #cairo #cairogirls #kasbah #thebluemosque #damascustiles #muslim #muslimartist #decorativeart #beautifulportrait #arabicgirls #acrylicartwork

'HILM' (acrylic paint on A2 stretched canvas) 2002

'HILM' (acrylic paint on A2 stretched canvas)
2002
This painting was directly inspired by climbing up Mount Sinai in Egypt and watching the sun rise over the desert mountains. The darkness just before dawn was magical, the air full of the faint sounds of shuffling feet and softly padding hooves.
Later on I found out about the concept of 'Hilm', and felt that it matched the peacefulness/hopefulness of that strange moment - so briefly shared with unknown, unseen strangers from all over the world.
'Hilm, along with humility, is one of the characteristics that most pleases God. In fact, these two dispositions are the source and origin of all other good character traits. In addition to dignity and calm, hilm also means to act with consciousness and without haste. The result is a good and moral manner which pleases God. Hilm is one of the basic elements of good morality.'
.
.
.
.
.
#arabicscript #arabicdesign #arabicwriting #mountsinai #arabicfaces #egypt #sunrise #arabic #desertlife #painting #thisisegypt #egyptian #egyptians #instaart #arte #creative #artistic #instaartist #artoftheday #artsy #arabiccalligraphy #arab #sinai #sinaidesert #camel #acrylicpainting #portraiture #desertsunrise #desertcamel #hilm

'DOUBLE HAPPY' (acrylic paint on A3 paper) 2000 'A

'DOUBLE HAPPY' (acrylic paint on A3 paper)
2000
'As a young girl, she’d dreamed of the dancing women, halfway across the world and half a lifetime into the future, who one day would make her smile. She'd stay in their land and become one of them, and dream of herself as a young girl, lost in the past.'
.
.
.
.
.
#chinesestyle #orientalstyle #chinesewriting #easternart #doublehappy #chinesecharacterswriting #chineselanguage #beautifulbizarre #chinoiserie #painting #instaart #china #arte #art #artsy #artwork #artistsoninstagram #creative #acrylicpainting #chinese #instaartist #arts #originalart #asiangirl #oriental #fantasyart #portraiture #colourfulart #beautifulart #beautifulartwork

'The Age of Unbelief' (acrylic paint on A2 canvas

'The Age of Unbelief' (acrylic paint on A2 canvas - details)
2002
.
'High above the turning world
The glow of dreaming skies
Warms the lost and fragile heart
Reflected in your eyes'
.
.
.
.
.
#artwork #artoftheday #africanart #acrylicpainting #artsy #tribal #creative #instaart #artistic #africanstyle #africanbeauty #fantasyart #african_portraits #africanprint #ethnic #tribalart #artofinstagram #colourfulart #instaartist #africanfashion #colourfulartwork #colorfulart #portraiture #beautifulart #beautifulartwork #originalart #prayer #devotion #holyman #devotional

'The Age of Unbelief' (acrylic paint on A2 canvas)

'The Age of Unbelief' (acrylic paint on A2 canvas)
2002
.
'High above the turning world
The glow of dreaming skies
Warms the lost and fragile heart
Reflected in your eyes'
.
.
.
.
.
#artwork #artoftheday #africanart #acrylicpainting #artsy #tribal #creative #instaart #artistic #africanstyle #africanbeauty #fantasyart #african_portraits #africanprint #ethnic #tribalart #artofinstagram #colourfulart #instaartist #africanfashion #colourfulartwork #colorfulart #portraiture #beautifulart #beautifulartwork #originalart #prayer #devotion #holyman #devotional

The first trip back home to visit my parents in mo

The first trip back home to visit my parents in months and months. My brother came from Buckinghamshire too, and we had a socially distanced garden party in the shadow of the Malvern Hills on a gloriously sunny afternoon.
Wonderful to be back at home with family (despite the enforced distancing) - memories of childhood days came flooding back. Richard and I were as amazed as always by the woodland that we planted waaaaaay back in 1984 when we nipped over the fence onto the wasteland area beyond and did 'guerilla sapling planting'. Those really tall trees in the background of the first photo are the result, and 'Bury Wood' is now used by a local primary school as an educational resource.
Amazing.

Oh, and on the third photo - I wasn't doing what it LOOKS like I was doing.
:-)
.
.
.
.
.
#nostalgia #childhood #parents #garden #nostalgic #gardening #childhoodmemories #instagarden #gardenlife #instagardenlovers #homesweethome #malvern #malvernhills #artist #naturalliving #nature #mumanddad #worcestershire #englishgarden #countrygarden #halcyondays #socialdistancingparty #brothers #lockdownlife #goinghome #socialdistancing #appreciatingfamily #familyreunion #familygettogether #familylife

AKHENATEN (acrylic paint on A2 canvas - details) 2

AKHENATEN (acrylic paint on A2 canvas - details)
2002
.
The background design is a 'Lotus of the Nile' design, the statue is of the heretic pharoah Akhenaten, and the stitched design on the waistcoat of the man holding the Holy book is a replica of that found carved inside the uppermost portion of the great pyramid of Giza.
Make of that what you will!
.
.
.
.
.
#egypt #egyptian #ancientegypt #artwork #acrylicpainting #artistsoninstagram #instaart #portraiture #ethnic #pharoah #acryliconcanvas #decorativeart #creative #arte #artoftheday #artsy #instaartist #artistic #egyptianart #egyptianlotus #lotus #art #egyptianlotusdesign #beautifulbizarre #akhenaten #americanindian #ancientegyptian #hereticpharaoh #nativeamerican #egyptianhistory

AKHENATEN (acrylic paint on A2 canvas) 2002 . The

AKHENATEN (acrylic paint on A2 canvas)
2002
.
The heretic of ages past
Who watched a new sun rise
On sacred land, with stone and sand –
A god who never dies
.
With strange and graceful beauty
So long ago he fell –
His dignity, his failure
His name a broken spell
.
And to his spirit they are drawn
Unknowing and unsure;
The preacher, poet, mystic, slave;
The outcast and the pure
.
.
.
.
.
#egypt #egyptian #ancientegypt #artwork #acrylicpainting #artistsoninstagram #instaart #portraiture #ethnic #pharoah #acryliconcanvas #decorativeart #creative #arte #artoftheday #artsy #instaartist #artistic #egyptianart #egyptianlotus #lotus #art #egyptianlotusdesign #beautifulbizarre #akhenaten #americanindian #ancientegyptian #hereticpharaoh #nativeamerican #egyptianhistory

'THE GOLD EATERS' (acrylic paint on A2 canvas - de

'THE GOLD EATERS' (acrylic paint on A2 canvas - details)
2004
.
The name that the Incas gave to the Spanish invaders to describe their greed for native gold.
This is a vision of how I imagined the Incas would have perceived their 'conquerors'.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#cusco #cuscoperu #peruviandesign #pizarro #painting #art #conquistadors #spanishconquistadors #instaart #artwork #artistsoninstagram #creative #artoftheday #arte #inca #peru #darkart #acrylicpainting #artistic #instaartist #incahistory #artoninstagram #beautifulartwork #decorativeart #franciscopizarro #atahualpa #spanishinvaders #gold #goldeaters #catholicism

'THE GOLD EATERS' (acrylic paint on A2 canvas - de

'THE GOLD EATERS' (acrylic paint on A2 canvas - details)
2004
.
The name that the Incas gave to the Spanish invaders to describe their greed for native gold.
This painting is a colourful presentation of a very dark subject matter.
.
.
.
.
.
#cusco #cuscoperu #peruviandesign #pizarro #painting #art #conquistadors #spanishconquistadors #instaart #artwork #artistsoninstagram #creative #artoftheday #arte #inca #peru #darkart #acrylicpainting #artistic #instaartist #incahistory #artoninstagram #beautifulartwork #decorativeart #franciscopizarro #atahualpa #spanishinvaders #gold #goldeaters #catholicism

'THE GOLD EATERS' (acrylic paint on A2 canvas) 200

'THE GOLD EATERS' (acrylic paint on A2 canvas)
2004
.
The name that the Incas gave to the Spanish invaders to describe their greed for native gold.
This painting is a colourful presentation of a very dark subject matter.
.
In 1532, explorer Francisco Pizarro and a small band of Spaniards arrived at the Inca city of Cajamarca to meet Atahualpa, the leader of the mighty Incan empire.
The day after their arrival, in what at first appeared to be a lunatic endeavour, Pizarro and his men massacred thousands of Inca warriors. Although ridiculously outnumbered, the Spaniards had the advantages of surprise, steel, cannons and mounted cavalry. The decisive battle was over in a matter of hours: with the Incan ruler Atahualpa prisoner, Pizarro was effectively in control of the Inca Empire. Atahualpa was promised his freedom if he could fill the famous ransom room at Cajamarca with gold. Caravans overladen with the precious metal arrived from all over the land and within six months the room was filled: a treasure worth over one and a half million pesos, which was already enough to make each of the conquerors extremely wealthy. Pizarro, however, chose to keep the Inca leader as a hostage in case of Indian revolt. Under pressure from his worried captains who feared that the natives would revolt, Pizarro brought Atahualpa to trial in July 1533, a mockery of justice in which he was given a free choice: to be burned alive as a pagan or strangled as a Christian.
They baptized him and then killed him.
.
.
.
.
.
#cusco #cuscoperu #peruviandesign #pizarro #painting #art #conquistadors #spanishconquistadors #instaart #artwork #artistsoninstagram #creative #artoftheday #arte #inca #peru #darkart #acrylicpainting #artistic #instaartist #incahistory #artoninstagram #beautifulartwork #decorativeart #franciscopizarro #atahualpa #spanishinvaders #gold #goldeaters #catholicism

'THE DARK AGE' (acrylic paint on A2 canvas - detai

'THE DARK AGE' (acrylic paint on A2 canvas - details)
2004
Inspired by the story of the subjugation of the Inca people by the Spanish conquistadors, and by the catholic cathedral at Cusco, Peru, with the blood soaked crucifixion imagery that line its dark walls.
.
'When Viracocha came again
Into the coloured lands
We placed the golden future
Into his open hands
.
But with him darkness came -
So many bitter years -
The Sun God hid his face
And blessed our world with tears'
.
.
.
.
.
#cusco #cuscoperu #mythology #catholicism #antireligious #peruviandesign #pizarro #painting #art #conquistadors #spanishconquistadors #instaart #artwork #artistsoninstagram #creative #artoftheday #arte #inca #peru #darkart #acrylicpainting #artistic #instaartist #incahistory #crucifixion #artoninstagram #viracocha #beautifulartwork #decorativeart #religiousart

'THE DARK AGE' (acrylic paint on A2 canvas - detai

'THE DARK AGE' (acrylic paint on A2 canvas - details)
2004
Inspired by the story of the subjugation of the Inca people by the Spanish conquistadors, and by the catholic cathedral at Cusco, Peru, with the blood soaked crucifixion imagery that line its dark walls.
.
'When Viracocha came again
Into the coloured lands
We placed the golden future
Into his open hands
.
But with him darkness came -
So many bitter years -
The Sun God hid his face
And blessed our world with tears'
.
.
.
.
.
#cusco #cuscoperu #mythology #catholicism #antireligious #peruviandesign #pizarro #painting #art #conquistadors #spanishconquistadors #instaart #artwork #artistsoninstagram #creative #artoftheday #arte #inca #peru #darkart #acrylicpainting #artistic #instaartist #incahistory #crucifixion #artoninstagram #viracocha #beautifulartwork #decorativeart #religiousart

'THE DARK AGE' (acrylic paint on A2 canvas) 2004 I

'THE DARK AGE' (acrylic paint on A2 canvas)
2004
Inspired by the story of the subjugation of the Inca people by the Spanish conquistadors, and by the catholic cathedral at Cusco, Peru, with the blood soaked crucifixion imagery that line its dark walls.
.
'When Viracocha came again
Into the coloured lands
We placed the golden future
Into his open hands
.
But with him darkness came -
So many bitter years -
The Sun God hid his face
And blessed our world with tears'
.
.
.
.
.
#cusco #cuscoperu #mythology #catholicism #antireligious #peruviandesign #pizarro #painting #art #conquistadors #spanishconquistadors #instaart #artwork #artistsoninstagram #creative #artoftheday #arte #inca #peru #darkart #acrylicpainting #artistic #instaartist #incahistory #crucifixion #artoninstagram #viracocha #beautifulartwork #decorativeart #religiousart

'THE URUBAMBA GIRL' (acrylic paint on A2 canvas -d

'THE URUBAMBA GIRL' (acrylic paint on A2 canvas -details)
2004
Inspired by seeing a group of colourfully dressed young schoolchildren visiting the city of Cuzco up in the high mountains of Peru. They had travelled in from one of small towns of the Urubamba valley, and were gathered on the steps leading up to the huge catholic cathedral in the main square, Plaza del Armas. This cathedral was filled to bursting with the gold stolen from the Inca people of Cuzco five centuries before by the Spanish conquistadors. Massacres of the indigenous populations of Peru were of course a brutal tactic used by these godfearing invaders to achieve their dominance in the country.

This painting is an interesting, sickening juxtaposition of ages and beliefs.
.
.
.
.
#cusco #cuscoperu #mythology #catholicism #urubamba #urubambavalley #pizarro #painting #art #conquistadors #spanishconquistadors #instaart #artwork #artistsoninstagram #creative #artoftheday #arte #inca #peru #darkart #acrylicpainting #artistic #instaartist #incahistory #fantasyart #artoninstagram #beautifulart #beautifulartwork #decorativeart #religiousart

'THE URUBAMBA GIRL' (acrylic paint on A2 canvas) 2

'THE URUBAMBA GIRL' (acrylic paint on A2 canvas)
2004
Inspired by seeing a group of colourfully dressed young schoolchildren visiting the city of Cuzco up in the high mountains of Peru. They had travelled in from one of small towns of the Urubamba valley, and were gathered on the steps leading up to the huge catholic cathedral in the main square, Plaza del Armas. This cathedral was filled to bursting with the gold stolen from the Inca people of Cuzco five centuries before by the Spanish conquistadors. Massacres of the indigenous populations of Peru were of course a brutal tactic used by these godfearing invaders to achieve their dominance in the country.

This painting is an interesting, sickening juxtaposition of ages and beliefs.
.
'Upon the ancient walls
Full of painted tiles
From across the oceans
The mountains and the miles
The little girl she saw
The sacred paths to glory
The thorns and the petals
The harsh or loving story
The blood and gold of centuries
The angels and the candles
She sighed and thought of home
And kicked her dusty sandals…'
.
.
.
.
#cusco #cuscoperu #mythology #catholicism #urubamba #urubambavalley #pizarro #painting #art #conquistadors #spanishconquistadors #instaart #artwork #artistsoninstagram #creative #artoftheday #arte #inca #peru #darkart #acrylicpainting #artistic #instaartist #incahistory #fantasyart #artoninstagram #beautifulart #beautifulartwork #decorativeart #religiousart

KAMISARAKI (acrylic paint on A2 canvas - details)

KAMISARAKI (acrylic paint on A2 canvas - details)
2004 .
.
.
.
.
#laketiticaca #laketiticacaperu #mythology #peruviangods #mamaocclo #mancocapac #painting #art #aymara #instaart #artwork #artistsoninstagram #creative #artoftheday #arte #inca #peru #darkart #acrylicpainting #artistic #instaartist #incanmythology #fantasyart #artoninstagram #beautifulart #beautifulartwork #decorativeart #strangeart #weirdart #kamisaraki

Load More... Follow on Instagram

Order prints

Not all of the artwork on my website is available in my online shop, but please contact me if you are interested in purchasing a print (Standard, Fine Art or Canvas) of any particular piece.

Follow Philip

Facebook
Instagram
YouTube

© Philip Downs 2020
Built with Storefront & WooCommerce.

My Account
Search

Search for:
0

Please get in touch if you are interested in purchasing any of my artwork which is not for sale in this shop. UK orders only. For all overseas shipping please contact me before purchase. Dismiss