Angelica had told Alessandro that she had commissioned a portrait of him by a female painter. That sounded incredibly interesting. Alessandro had himself chosen to support a female cello player not that long ago, and now Angelica had met a female painter and chosen to at least support her by wanting her to paint Alessandro. She’d said it was an early birthday present, because Alessandro’s birthday was in July. The date had been set and Alessandro made himself ready. Since blue went so well with his eyes, he chose this color today. A shining outfit with bright blue trousers, a blue and silver brocade waistcoat and a white silk shirt underneath, wide-sleeved and with plenty of ruffles by the hems at the arms and the neck. He chose to not wear the jacket that went with the outfit today, since it was summer and this was perhaps more his style. White stockings, and black shiny shoes with silver buckles. He had painted kohl around his eyes, as always, and dusted his hair with silver glitter. Yesterday he took a bath to make sure he looked perfect for the painting.

And then he waited, picked up a poetry book as he did it. Angelica was in the music room again, providing beautiful songs and tunes for the house. They had set the whole thing for the painting up in another salon downstairs in the house, where Alessandro would be perching on a chaise that had been carried out into the small garden behind the palazzo, because the weather was great and the green and the sunshine would provide a perfect background and perfect light for the artist. For now he waited in a salon in the house though, with the poetry book. He had no idea what to expect. Angelica had said the artist wasn’t your ordinary artist and she was very kind, although perhaps a bit cautious with what she told about herself. Well Alessandro wouldn’t push her; he was looking forwards to meeting her.

At last there was a knock on the door and before his head servant Emilio could reach the door, Alessandro gave him a smile to tell him he’d open it. Emilio left the hall and Alessandro brushed his clothes and ran a hand through his hair, forgetting the glitter and forgetting he’d now also have glitter on his hand. He opened the door to the lady artist and was surprised to see she was not even European by looks. But so stunning! “You must be Hamoa! Welcome… I am Angelica’s brother Alessandro, I think it is me you’re here to paint? Please, come inside. Do you want anything… a glass of wine perhaps? Come, don’t be shy.” He said with the most warm and winning smile, happy to meet her and easily understanding why Angelica had been so interested in the artist. She surely was a sight to behold. He couldn't wait to see what she could do and to get to know her.