XXIX.
While the foregoing scene was taking place at the Vatican, Angela
Sovrani, left to herself for some hours, took the opportunity to set
her great picture "on view" for the coming morrow. Locking both
doors of her studio, she began to arrange the room; her huge canvas
was already on a movable easel supplied with wheels, which ran
lightly and easily over the polished floor without making any sound.
At its summit a brass rod was attached, and on this a curtain of
golden-coloured silk was hung, the folds of which at present
concealed the painting from view. The top-light of the studio was
particularly good on this special afternoon, as the weather was
clear, and the Roman sky translucent and bright as an opal, and
Angela, as she wheeled her "great work" into position, sang for pure
lightness of heart and thankfulness that all was done. In her soul
she had the consciousness that what she had produced from her brain
and hand was not altogether unworthy. For, though to the true
artist, no actual result can ever attain to the beauty of the first
thought or ideal of the thing to be performed, there is always the
consolation that if one's best and truest feeling has been earnestly
put into the work, some touch, however slight, of that ideal beauty
must remain.
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