Konrad and Alexandra (pdf) - Rolf Gross

Tuscany. Have you noticed how the paintings of the Florentine quattrocento mirror this sober
countryside? Their colors and style are so different from the lush Venetian or Umbrian
paintings."
Alexandra was relieved, she had touched the impassioned heart behind those serious,
desperate eyes. She smiled at Clara. "Yes, this is one of Tuscany’s great pleasures. Do you
know the frescoes of Piero de la Francesca in Borgo di San Sepolcro? There I made that
discovery for the first time. The medium lets the frescoes appear almost transparent, and they
are forbiddingly severe as you say, for example his Madonna in the cemetery chapel."
Clara’s face opened up, became animated and excited. "Do you paint?"
"No, I don’t. When I first came to Italy I had never before seen an original Italian painting.
Venice and later Florence completely overwhelmed my senses. That was six years ago. Ever
since I see their colors before my eyes. They are my refuge and consolation during the cold,
depressing winters in St. Petersburg."
A shadow passed over Clara’s face. Hidden behind her forbidding features burnt an
intense fire. Why did St. Petersburg disturb her?
"You two are completely absorbed into each other," remarked Friedrich.
Alexandar fell silent. Always sensitive,Claudia came to her rescue. "Clara, last night we
hedged a plan. The six of us would like to spend the end of August on the beach in Italy. It will
be Konrad and Alexandra’s last month here before they have to return to the Russian winter. It
would be wonderful to just lie on some beach, take Otto along, and swim in the blue Adria.
Would you join us with Ruth?"
Clara passed her hand over her forehead as if trying to wipe away her despondency and
with a measured voice said. "I have buried myself in work for eight months. Ruth and I too
need to get back among people. I cannot forever mourn my loss of Rainer. The sea and a wide
beach would really be wonderful. I would like to join you. Do you have a particular place in
mind or may I make a suggestion?"
She looked from Claudia to Alexandra. "A few years ago we spent a summer in a small
pensione in Ca’ Savio, a village of four houses an hour by boat north of Venice. The house is
run by a real Italian mama, spartan, ridiculously cheap, no service, everybody takes care of
himself, one can use her kitchen or eat in a small, local fishermen’s trattoria in the village. The
beach is right in front of the house, miles of beautiful, white sand, completely empty."
Clara gazed absentmindedly at this vision and turned to Katharina with a smile. "The
houseguests are poets, painters, and other artists from all over Europe. Katharina, you would
not be bothered by any paparazzi. There is one unwritten house rule, Everybody has to bring
one or two interesting books along to read to the assembled guests in the evening."
Clara’s suggestion was received with enthusiasm. They hedged out the details well into
the night.
In parting Clara invited Alexandra. "Come, visit me and bring Otto along. I rent a studio
in Berg on Lake Starnberg. You take the train to Starnberg and a small boat from there."
Alexandra recognized Clara from far away, unmistakably statuesque, in a long white
dress, she was waiting with folded arms at the landing.
Clara spontaneously embraced Alexandra. "Please, would you address me with the
informal Du?"
She greeted Otto.
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