Morgan Stanley held its summer drinks party last week at the Royal Academy of Arts in Burlington House, London.
The galleries of the Academy were displaying the annual Summer Exhibition, with 1,100 works of contemporary art covering the walls in an awe-inspiring riot of colour.
“A bastion of the English cultural summer,” is how one English broadsheet described it. The Ranger, Silver and Tonto were honoured to be in the halls of the Academy, with unspoiled access to the eminent display.
But one particular work hung like a talisman over Morgan Stanley's event. The Ranger was discussing leveraged finance with an exuberant American banker when, looking over the banker’s shoulder, the Ranger choked on his elderflower pressé.
Luckily the banker had not noted the Ranger’s shock and continued talking.
But the Ranger caught Silver’s eye across the room and nodded his head upwards towards a large photograph on the wall.
Silver’s eyes also widened in surprise.
The large picture showed the lower halves of two male bodies wearing brightly coloured sports shorts. The legs of the men where thick with black hair and one of the men’s hands was down the other man’s shorts.
The picture disported itself with insouciance above the hall of guests, who stood making small talk and sipping cocktails.
The Ranger smiled to himself.
Good for you Morgan Stanley, thought the Ranger. Good for you.
