There is a saying "A picture speaks more than a thousand words." Without a doubt that is true and what makes the picture unique due to which words or even emotions that hit you.
But where is the origin of the quote? From a simple person who just realized it when looking at pictures? No. Behind every saying or quote lies a story. This story starts thus with a talented and poor painter, a young and strong-willed woman of simple society and a rich lord with great fame...
The painter's name is Henry, he is poor as a churchmouse but a maestro with colours and brushes. Able to capture the right light, perspective and the emotion in such perfection all what was missing was giving a living soul to all the figures on the canvas. He is also a hard worker, when a rich person orders him to paint, it is done within days. He works passionately. Through entire nights and days without sleep nor food. His dark brown eyes would wander around the canvas and remembering what he saw in every detail in his inner eye while his thin arm and skillful hand wander between the canvas and the plate of colours.
While the painter is busy or asleep in his only room in a cellar in a small village a young woman with long dark wavey hair sells fruits and flowers on the market. Many people avoid her because she is new in the village and an exotic person because she has travelled far. Only few dare to buy something from her stand. She is struggling hard to make a living, her clothes are in rags and walks bare foot. She has a good eye of noticing things around her and a strong will to fight through her difficult life. She is also kind and gentle, many children smile at her when they pass at her stand. As a gesture of generousity she offers an apple or a flower to them. Her name is Seraphine.
This simple little village is under the protection of a mighty and well known Lord called Michael Garret. He is admired by women and men for his physical strength, good looks, wealth and is distant related to the royal family. He holds many nights parties to show his wealth, exquisite taste and to boast about his skills and looks.
Like in many villages there is at a time a festival for its establishment, in the festival holds competitions, music, dancing, food and wine. A competition for the best dessert, flower arranging and music with dancing. Seraphine wanted to participate in the flower arranging but the others refused her to join. In deep sorrow and silence she watched how the village began to bloom in its finest shine for the festival. All alone she stood at her stand and tried to sell her fresh fruits and flowers with her greatest kindness she can offer.
Everyone ignored her but one. The well famed Lord Micheal Garret.
Seraphine was for a moment astounded that someone dared to buy from her today, a day before the festival. She was speechless, frozen in awe and stared at the man with big eyes. The Lord began to grin to her reaction. Quickly she collected herself, shook her head and started to count a few apples.
As she handed them to him, the Lord returned a handfull of coins. She refused the large quantity but the insited her to take it and buy something glamourous for the festival.
Immediately Seraphine explained that that is not possible, because she is a stranger and the villagers avoid strangers.
Those words did make the Lord wince to have second thoughts explained that he is a Lord, escourted her to a shop and purchaised a beautiful dress for her to wear.
She took it with appreciation but out of respect and politeness but not love while Lord Michael did. Admiring her beauty and difference what makes her special. Since that day they talked alot together or rather Lord Michael. Seraphine listened with the highest attention without interrupting him.
During the village festival of wine, food, music and dancing Lord Michael fell even more deeply in love with Seraphine while she remained distant. Lord Michael wanted to make her happy and decided to give her a portrait of herself, especially knowing there is a talented painter in the village. He whispered into Henry's ear and handed him a handfull of coins. Gladly Henry took the offer and set off to search for Seraphine amongst the crowd. Honestly, it was easy to find her. She sat alone on a bench while watching others dance.
Very polite from what Henry learned from his clients, they began with a small talk. Spontaneously Seraphine bid to dance with her, Henry hesitated but accepted. Soon they both had together plenty of fun and laughed a lot. Once the music stopped they stopped dancing. Quickly Henry led her away from the crowd and looked down at her hands as they stopped behind a house. Then up into her eyes. He explained that he is a simple painter and would like to paint her. Seraphine was so speechless that she only nodded and bit her lower lip.
With a broad smile of excitement he led her gently the way to his room. From there on Henry explained all the possiblities to pose for a portrait and what to be added or removed. They laughed together as Seraphine made funny poses with some flowers. In the end they decided on one pose where she sits close by a window overlooking the landscape and holds two cornflowers in her hands. One in blue and the other red; resting on her lap. Very concentrated Henry set off with painting and waited patiently for the right light from the window, the sunrise. After a long time of silence and concentration, Henry looked over the canvas and saw that Seraphine had fallen asleep. He grinned, adoring her beauty and kindness. But also her courage, strength and wit; mainly everything about her. He never thought to have come that far in such a short time with her and with the painting. Carefully as he could he carried her in his arms and placed her upon his bed. Gently stroking her hair and cheek and continued upon the portrait. Remembering every detail yet somehow it felt different this time than all the others, it was like trying to remember a half forgotten dream; a beautiful dream that you wish it would never end or become real some day soon.
After many hours later Seraphine awoke from her sleep and realised how late it was. She about to rise and head to her stand to sell but Henry halted her by holding gently a hand. They both froze and stared into each others eyes as if seeing for the first time. They both saw it and 'it' meaning love. Since that day they fell in love.
As the days passed and the portrait came soon to an end, Henry and Seraphine were insperable. The Lord knew nothing because Seraphine bid Henry to keep their love as a secret from everyone. It was their own little world where they felt free and save.
Lord Michael continued to shower Seraphine with luxury and tried to make her comfortable and happy in the upper class but the others smirked at her of arrogance and that she was different.
One fine day a villager overheard how Seraphine and Henry had a conversation in the woods about their love and the portrait that is soon finished. Quickly he ran to Lord Michael and told what he heard. Lord Michael did not a believe a word but wanted to see for himself. In the woods he found them still talking and listened from a certain distance that the others did not notice. Jealousy and dispaire grew under his chest.
On the following day Henry brought the portrait and Seraphine acted as if she were a bit surprised. Henry paid a generous sum and a cold silence and glare. They noticed their secret is blown. Immeditely Seraphine began to explain. Lord Michael knew he is the only lord in this area and no one can have her as no one can have him.
Suddenly Lord Michael grabbed the enveloppe opener and killed Henry. Seraphine cried out in dispair and ran to Henry's aid but it was too late. The blow was too fatal. Seraphine sheaded tears of sorrow while Henry died in her arms. Everthing turned so fast for her that she could barely grasp what had just happened. She made a vow. She would give her soul to devil to keep Henry alive. Everything.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDrSuOxwtF
Deep in the night as she still cried in sorrow with her dead lover in her hands a dark figure of a man stood before her and offered to revive Henry if she would paint a portrait of Henry. In return she should give her soul to him. It all must be kept as a secret if it is blown and the lord kills him again, she would turn into stone. Without second thoughts she accepted it. Within moments the body of Henry has dispeared into thin air and she started to paint on a large canvas in Henry's room. After a few days the portrait was complete and Lord Michael has been soothed. Seraphine never thought she could paint as she was finished with her portrait of Henry. Suddenly the painting moved; Henry has closed and opened his eyes, began to smile at her. Nearly as if looking through a window. Overjoyed she embraced the painting. She felt two soft ghostly arms embracing her and a soft voice whispering like a faint breeze.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bQY7v4Skk
One night she was invited to a party to celebrate with Lord Michael, out of respect she went. As he wanted to greet her elaborately she refused and walked on. Never forgiving him for killing her lover and that she belongs in the lower class.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWoUxnwoo5
Suddenly she noticed her portrait of Henry hanging on one of the walls. Quickly while no one was looking, or so the two lovers hoped, Henry fixed out of simple wire a ring and gave it to her. Seraphine cheerished it and wore it with pride while the others only smirked at its simplicity.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRvuyvuchB
Immediately the lord noticed that and became again jealous but also surprised. Realising it all came from a painting. He took action this time to protect Seraphine; grabed his dagger at his belt and cut deep across the canvas. Seraphine wanted to stop him but other people held her back and made her watch. It all happened so fast that she fell upon her knees and tears trickled down her pale cheeks. Everything was spinning fast. After few moments of silence she stood up and ran out of the mansion into the garden where she can have her solitary. Facing the tranquille sunrise and felt how everything grew cold around her while in her heart she hopes to see Henry soon.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4zm4wrykI
This is a short version, actually it would be far more detailed but would go for ages.
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