Девять рассказов
De Daumier-Smith’s Blue Period
Iwonderifperhapsyouarethoroughlyacquaintedwithwhathe(St.FrancisofAssisi)saidwhentheywereabouttocauteriseoneofhiseyeballswithared-hot,burningiron?Hesaidasfollows:"BrotherFire,Godmadeyoubeautifulandstronganduseful;Iprayyoubecourteoustome."Youpaintslightlythewayhespoke,inmanypleasantways,inmyopinion.Incidentally,mayIaskiftheyoungladyintheforegroundintheblueoutfitisMaryMagdalene?Imeaninthepicturewehavebeendiscussing,ofcourse.Ifsheisnot,Ihavebeensadlydeludingmyself.However,thisisnonovelty.
IhopeyouwillconsidermeentirelyatyourdisposalaslongasyouareastudentatLesAmisDesVieuxMaitres.Frankly,Ithinkyouaregreatlytalentedandwouldnotevenbeslightlystartledifyoudevelopedintoageniusbeforemanyyearshavegoneby.Iwouldnotfalselyencourageyouinthismatter.ThatisonereasonwhyIaskedyouiftheyoungladyintheforegroundintheblueoutfitwasMaryMagdalene,becauseifitwas,youwereusingyourincipientgeniussomewhatmorethanyourreligiousinclinations,Iamafraid.However,thisisnothingtofear,inmyopinion.
Withsincerehopethatyouareenjoyingcompletelyperfecthealth,Iam,
Veryrespectfullyyours,(signed)
JEANDEDAUMIER-SMITHStaffInstructor
LesAmisDesVieuxMaltres
P.S.IhavenearlyforgottenthatstudentsaresupposedtosubmitenvelopeseverysecondMondaytotheschool.Foryourfirstassignmentwillyoukindlymakesomeoutdoorsketchesforme?Dothemveryfreelyanddonotstrain.
