La femme

...here I am in all my glory, sitting on silk and wrapped in satin, with my beautiful fan, my white, long, soft gloves. Today I feel like a goddess posing here for Master Grosso. My husband asked me what I wanted for my birthday and I answered without hesitation:- a portrait -.

The painting will be beautiful and I am convinced that everyone will admire it. One day the canvas will be exhibited in a museum. I can already imagine the visitors wondering, who will be this radiant lady sitting on the sofa and overwhelmed by all that precious fabric? The Maestro will title it: 'La Femme'. I suggested it to him. I would like my image to survive me, indeed, to make me immortal.

I thought that if there was the title 'Portrait of G.L.' a hundred years from now, no one would know who I was. So, instead, I will overcome the passage of time, I will be the image of the eternal feminine. I asked Maestro Grosso not to lie with his brush about my physicality: the good Lord wanted me in generous shapes, so be it! Many ladies looking at the picture will recognise themselves and become my allies and I will be a good friend to them, I will convince them not to hide at the back in family photos but to stay in the front row in front of the lens and to hell with them if a few rolls of hair appear between the folds of the dress!

Paint, paint Master Grosso, my generous chest, round chin, rosy cheeks and curly hair. I will sit here, motionless, waiting for you to finish my let go for eternity....