IghefactthatI’mstandingherepladstill;iftruthbetold,I’vebeengallopingforturies;I’vepassedoverplains,foughtinbattles,carriedoffthemelancholydaughtersofshahstobewed;I’vegallopedtirelesslypagebypagefromstorytohistory,fromhistorytolegendandfrombooktobook;I’veappearedintlessstories,fables,booksandbattles;I’veapaniedinvincibleheroes,legendaryloversandfantasticarmies;I’vegallopedfromcampaigntocampaignwithourvictorioussultans,andasaresult,I’veappearedintlessillustrations.

    Howdoesitfeel,youask,tobepaintedsooften?

    Ofcourse,I’mproudofmyself.Yet,Ialsoquestioher,iisIbeiedinallcases.ItisevidentfromthesepicturesthatI’mperceiveddifferentlybyeveryoill,Ihavethestrohatthere’saonality,aunitytotheillustrations.

    Myminiaturistfriendswereretingastoryretly,andfromit,Ilearhefollowing:Thekingof

    theFrankishinfidelswassideringmarriagetothedaughteroftheVeianDoge.Hewassideringit,butthenhelaguedwiththethought,“WhatifthisVeianispoorandhisdaughterugly?”Toreassurehimself,heorderedhisbestartisttopainttheVeianDoge’sdaughter,possessions,propertyandbelongings.TheVeianscouldcarelessaboutgrossindecy:They’llexposenotonlytheirdaughterstothepryiheartist,buttheirhorsesandpalazzos,aswell.Thegiftediistcoulddepictamaidenorahorseinsuchawaythatyou’dbeabletopickeitheroutofacrowd.Bahiscourtyard,astheFrankishkingexamihepicturesfromVenice,pwhetherheshouldtakethemaidenashiswife,hisstallion,suddenlyaroused,attemptedtomouractivemareinthepainting,andthehroomswerehardpressedttheferociousanimalundertrolb