The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-02-04
She Cot Even
With lin
By EDITH v. ROSS

! was studying art in Italy in the
hope Of being able to return to Amer
lea and set up as portrait painter
My headquarters were Florence, where
lived in room looking out on the
river Arno. Being woman. had
been careful to find private family
who would take me in. One day saw
little Italian boy about twelve years
old playing on the Arno embankment
in whom recognized ut once an art
lists model. l asked him where be
lived. and he took me to his home
near by. made bargain with his
mother for him to come to my room
and pose for me at a franc sitting.
Little Luigi had pair Of eyes the
expression of which l could not catch.
besides other features which were com.
Elementary to that expression. work.
ed over him for half dozen sittngs.
then determined to give up the matter
of trying to paint his portrait. But On
the day came to this resolution my
landlady told me that q gentleman lad
taken one Of her rooms who, she
thought. knew good deal about art
and suggested that get some points
from him.
showed him my work and my mod.
Ell, at the same time asking what pre-
vented me from catching the boys e2.
preston. He showed me certain lines
that l had drawn too heavy, others
that We're too light and still others that
had left out entirely. ! made the
corrections. and the picture was i'm.
proved, but was far from satisfactory.
Mr.. Wartied told me that had been
working too hard and would do better
If l should take more rest.
l followed his advice and. since l
had seen little Of the environs Of Flor
ence. concluded to go about bit. The
next day ! made an excursion to Fie-
sole. on an eminence several miles
from Florence and reached by trolley
When returned in the evening met
Mr.. Warfield on the staircase. He
asked me If did not feel refreshed,
and l admitted that l did. II think, y
he said, that if you look at your work
after Il day Of rest and recreation you
will be better satisfied with what you
have done"
True enough; my portrait struck me
as being far less imperfect than be-
fore. The next morning had my lit
tie model before me again and worked
industri0usly during whole sitting.
Then l put the portrait away that |
irh 4 1v f0
my work on it. When looked at it
the next day found that had rather
injured than improved it. Disguised,
i resolved to spend the morning in the
Boboi gardens and, leaving word for
Luigi that would not need him. left
the house.
When l came in for luncheon the
portrait was on my easel where | had
left 1t. Again was surprised that it
looked so much better than when l had
last seen It. 1T is remarkable" said.
"how ones physical condition affects
ones appreciation, especially Of ones
own work.
But l injured my work again-that
is, in my own eyes. for Mr.. Warfield
assured me that the picture was grow
ing better every day. And so it was
notwithstanding that it seemed to me
l could not touch it without marring
it. Finally one day on returning from
sightseeing the picture seemed to me
to be simply perfect. 1t was not only
Luigi. but Luigi living. l showed it
to Mr.. Warfeld, who told me not to
touch it again.
l was sadly in need of money and
took it to dealer. He seemed very
much pleased with it and told me he
thought he could sell it for a good
price if there was on it the name OF Il
we'll known artist. had not put my
name on it. since was unknown. and
thought it better to leave the public
in ignorance Of the painter. left the
picture with the dealer, telling him to
sell it If he got any offer whatever for
it. In few days he wrote me note
saying that he had sold it for $500
francs.
Astonished, hurried at once to his
shop and asked him how he had man
aged to make so ready sale and for
such a price, but his only explanation
was that it was a fine bit Of work.
returned to my quarters hoping to get
better explanation from Mr.. War
field, but found that he had left Flor
ence.
l told my landlady of my good for,
tune, but she did not seem to be much
surprised. began to think ] had not
realized the artistic ability that was In
me. The landlady's daughter. though
she rejoiced with me. did not seem to
wonder at my good fortune.
sent for Luigi to make him hand
some present in addition to 10 francs
had paid for, his sittings. When he
came gave him 80 francs.
"Grazia, signorina!' he said. Now
have SO francs to spend.
Not SO, Lnigi-35"
mo. signorina: 1t Is so. With the
Is francs Signor Warfield paid me-
He stopped short.
what! Signor Warfield paid you Is
francs p