Part 8 (1/2)
He did as Raphael had done--he changed his style, and painted, in the fashi+on of Albani, two Goddesses rather than two queens These illustrious ladies appeared so lovely on the sign,--they presented to the astonished eyes such an assees of style in Pittrino--they assumed the poses of sirens so Anacreontically--that the principal echevin, when admitted to view this capital piece in the salle of Cropole, at once declared that these ladies were too handson in the eyes of passers-by
To Pittrino he added, ”His royal highness, Monsieur, who often comes into our city, will not be htly clothed, and he will send you to the oubliettes of the state; for, relorious prince is not always tender
You end, without which I forbid the exhibition of the sign I say this for your sake, Master Cropole, as well for yours, Signor Pittrino”
What answer could be made to this? It was necessary to thank the echevin for his kindness, which Cropole did But Pittrino remained downcast and said he felt assured of as about to happen
The visitor was scarcely gone when Cropole, crossing his arms, said: ”Well, end,” said Pittrino, in a melancholy tone ”I have some excellent ivory-black; it will be done in a moment, and ill replace the Medici by the nymphs or the sirens, whichever you prefer”
”No,” said Cropole, ”the will of my father must be carried out My father considered--”
”He considered the figures of the ht end,” said Cropole
”The proof of the iures,” said Pittrino, ”is that he desired they should be likenesses, and they are so”
”Yes; but if they had not been so, ould have recognized theend? At the present day even, when the ard to these two celebrated persons, ould recognize Catherine and Mary without the words 'To the Medici'?”
”But the figures?” said Pittrino, in despair; for he felt that young Cropole was right ”I should not like to lose the fruit of my labor”
”And I should not wish you to be thrown into prison, and myself into the oubliettes”
”Let us efface 'Medici',” said Pittrino, supplicatingly
”No,” replied Cropole, firot an idea, a subliend likewise Does not 'Medici' mean doctor, or physician, in Italian?”
”Yes, in the plural”
”Well, then, you shall order another sign-frame of the smith; you shall paint six physicians, and write underneath 'Aux Medici' which makes a very pretty play upon words”
”Six physicians! impossible! And the composition?” cried Pittrino
”That is your business--but so it shall be--I insist upon it--itwas peren of six physicians, with the legend; the echevin applauded and authorized it
The sign produced an extravagant success in the city, which proves that poetry has always been in the wrong, before citizens, as Pittrino said
Cropole, toup the nyn in his bedroom, which made Madame Cropole blush every tiht
This is the way in which the pointed-gable house got a sign; and this is how the hostelry of the Medici, ed by a quarter, as we have described And this is how there was at Blois a hostelry of that name, and had for a painter-in-ordinary Master Pittrino
Chapter VI The Unknown
Thus founded and recon, the hostelry of Master Cropole held its way steadily on towards a solid prosperity