It was afternoon and the air was clear, big fluffy clouds lazily gliding across the sky similar to the gondolas and traders' boats that glided by on the Canal Grando. When in the beautiful city of Venice, pretty much anyone with artistic inclination would be compelled to paint, and so Jules had packed a bag of painting supplies, grabbed his recently purchased easel and headed out. Now he had set up the easel by the Grand Canal, looking towards the Punta della Dogana and the basilica of Santa Maria della Salute. Gondolas and the occasional trader's boat. Jules was painting the basilica, fascinated by the sunlight shining off the white stone and the play of shadows over the Baroque facade. This watercolour, not a new invention, but one that had risen to popularity rather recently. Julien liked its translucent qualities, the way it let the paper shine through, and the way they would flow into each other.

It had been too long since he had been able to afford painting supplies, but thanks to Henrietta's sister generously donating some of her painting supplies and now his estranged cousin paying him a salary, he could now finally afford to buy some.

Painting again was so much fun. His artistic education back in France was paying off, since he still remembered and had a good grasp of the craft. The picture of the basilica was emerging on the paper, with soft shades of blue and slight hints of purple mixed into the shadows combined with highlights in white gouache to bring out the lively Baroque ornamentation.

Caught up in painting and focused on the light and shadows of Santa Maria della Salute, Jules was rather oblivious to the people passing him by. Immersed in painting, he accidentally knocked the small metal box of gouache paints off of the easel, little cubes of paint scattering over the cobble stones.
“La vache”*, he muttered in his native French. Putting his paintbrush aside, he crouched down to gather up the wayward gouache paints.

*”La vache” - lit. “the cow”, understood as “crap”.

The warm Afternoon air was clear, big fluffy clouds lazily gliding across the sky, it was Beautiful outside Ilaria was on her way home from mass at the Basilica of Santa Maria Della Salute, Papi was away in Verona and Mama had gone with him so Ilaria was left to her self
but this was how she likes it she enjoys being alone. This Lovely Afternoon Ilaria was walking along the path when she noticed a young man bent over gathering up spilled paints. She slowly made her way towards the fellow and in a soft melodic voice said "Buongiorno Buon signore, Stai bene?" Ilaria stayed a safe distance back from him as he was a stranger and she did not know what he would do if she was any closer

Today the Mass had been on Saint Francis of Assisi and how he was known for helping the less fortunate and Ilaria thought today she would help someone less fortunate just as the Saint had in his time, As far as Ilaria could tell from the looks of this Gentleman before her he may just be the one she needed to help in some way. Ilaria made her way around him and looked at the painting he was near than an Idea came to her mind and she decided that would be how she would help him. She softly said" Buon signore, quanto costerebbe dipingere il mio ritratto Proprio qui vicino alla ballisca? ?"




Translation: First paragraph: "Good Afternoon, Good Sir Are you alright?"
second paragraph: Good Sir, how much would it cost for you to paint my portrait Right here by the ballisca?
source: google translate.

Busy gathering up the little gouache paint cubes, Jules didn't notice anyone approaching. When a voice spoke to him he looked up, a little surprised as he hadn't expected anyone to stop. The voice belonged to a young, pretty woman he'd never met before. The artist smiled. “Si, grasie Signorina, I'm fine.” Returning the last cubes of paint to their metal box, he straightened up. “Just getting so wrapped up in the painting I lost track of my surroundings.”

His gaze followed her as she walked around the easel to look at the painting. “It's not finished yet”, he said. He was surprised again as the lady asked him to paint her portrait by the basilica. She looked too fancy to be the sort who paid street artists to paint her picture. But then again, rich young people with money to spend would do way crazier things than that. God knew Jules himself had, once, before his family fortune was deplete.
“I'd gladly paint your portrait, Signorina.” Doing a brief calculation in his head, he mentioned a sum suitable for the commission. “Would you like to have the portrait painted straight away? I'm afraid I don't have any chair with me...” He looked around for anything chair-like, in vain, before apologetically looking back to his unexpected customer. “Perdonami. Me ciamo Julien de Courseilles.”*

*”Perdonami (Italian). Me ciamo Julien de Courseilles” (Venetian) - Forgive me. My name is Julien de Courseilles.

Ilaria smiled kindly at the gentleman then said "Sì, signore, se possibile, va bene, signore, preferisco rappresentare il ritratto."
Ilaria stood by the edge of the bridge in the shadow of the Basilica And arranged her self elegantly as though she was sitting on the edge looking towards the Basilica.

Ilaria had decided to do it right away because she did not want to invite the fellow to her home for a chair as it is not safe to invite strangers home.

OOC: Translation: "Yes sir right away if possable, that is fine Sir I prefer To stand for portrait."
Sorry its blah but I am lacking muse this early in the morning and wanted to get this out before I leave for work

Ilaria smiled kindly at the gentleman giving a low cutrsey she said "È un piacere conoscerla, signor Julien de Courseille. Mi chiamo Ilaria Vittori." then Rising from the curtsey she softly said "Sì, signore, se possibile, va bene, signore, preferisco rappresentare il ritratto."
Ilaria stood by the edge of the bridge in the shadow of the Basilica And arranged her self elegantly as though she was sitting on the edge looking towards the Basilica.

Ilaria had decided to do it right away because she did not want to invite the fellow to her home for a chair as it is not safe to invite strangers home.

OOC: Translation: Italian: È un piacere conoscerla, signor Julien de Courseille. Mi chiamo Ilaria Vittori.="It is a pleasure to meet you, Mister. Julien de Courseille. My name is Ilaria Vittori .
"Sì, signore, se possibile, va bene, signore, preferisco rappresentare il ritratto."="Yes sir right away if possable, that is fine Sir I prefer To stand for portrait."
Sorry its blah but I am lacking muse this early in the morning and wanted to get this out before I leave for work

Smiling, Jules nodded.
“Molto ben*, Signorina Vittori. Just give me a moment.” Removing his current painting from the easel, he produced another sheet of watercolour paper from a flat leather bag and placed it on the easel. Picking out a new brush, he studied his subject standing in front of him, noting how the light and shadows fell over her features. Dipping the brush in the small cup of water, he began painting with well-practised strokes.

“I haven't had the pleasure of making your acquaintance before, Signorina. You live here in Venice, I presume?” His gaze wandered back and forth between subject and painting.

*”Molto ben” (Venetian) - Very good.