V
Marina came often to the studio of the Veronese in San Samuele, while
the _Madonna del Sorriso_ grew slowly into life; it was not that most
perfect life of which the artist had dreamed, for hitherto beauty had
sufficed to him and he had never sought to burden his creations with
questions of the soul; but now the sadness of the unattainable that was
growing within him looked out of the wonderful eyes of the maiden on his
canvas, yet he tossed his brushes aside in discontent. "Her smile
eludeth me, though it hath the candor of a child's," the master cried.
Within his studio his pupils came and went, some earnest to follow in
the footsteps of the master, absorbed in their tasks; others, golden
youths, painting a little because Art was beautiful--not overcoming.
In the inner chamber, which was the artist's sanctum, were only the
Veronese and his brother Benedetto at work; his brother, who was
architect and sculptor too, was putting in the background of an
elaborate palace in a fine Venetian group upon which Paolo worked when
not occupied with his Madonna; and a favorite pupil, the young nobleman
Marcantonio Giustiniani, was in attendance upon the master.
Pages:
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86