I first saw “The Man In the Golden Helmet” in 1976 on a street corner in Monterey California. At that time he was labeled as “The Conquistador.” He was painted on black velvet and framed with enough faux gold woodwork and styling to make a rococo chapel blush. He stood out among the every day black velvet visual chorus of tigers, matadors and breezily attired gypsy women artfully arranged about the centrally placed interpretations of The Three Kings—Martin, Elvis, and Jesus. Much as the original was painted by an artist within the “circle of Rembrandt,” … Continue reading The Man in the Golden Helmet by Harry Lee James →