“I sketched a ceiling relief…of people..dancing exuberantly ..not the cherubic angels with the tiny..er…wings. When my bedroom was finished I only saw flowers ..everywhere. I cried . The artist consoled me. He said that I had extraordinary talent. But the Count, my late husband, had said : Flowers. Seeing me cry he offered to loosen the chandelier …to let it dangle that it would surely fall around midnight. I took his offer”
The Prioress shook her head in displeasure at her young nun’s confession…. the girls nowadays … engaging in risky behaviour ..what happened to a good old dose of Belladonna?
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This story is set in Medieval Italy where rich widowed women were allowed to join a nunnery to pursue their love of art, although they had to keep it “religious”. I can almost imagine the heroine of my story “cherubize” her sensual painting to make it acceptable for her times and introduce one naughty-looking girl among the hordes of male cherubs, like the painting below:
Pic courtesy: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/jacobitevirtuosi/image7.php
Some info on Medieval women artists: http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-art/medieval-women-artists.htm
Belladonna: is a flower extract used for many purposes including poisoning to kill. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atropa_belladonna
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This 100 word story is written in response to the 100 word photo challenge posted by Rochelle Wisoff-Field each week.
Click on the ‘blue frog’ below to read other amazing takes, that fellow Friday Fictioneers have, on the same photo prompt:
Dear Ansumani,
As you say, anything for art.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Anything ! Thanks for reading 🙂
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Oh my. Anything for art indeed. I could imagine the heroine of your story doing that too 🙂
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She is an inspiring woman ..this heroine 🙂
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Ha.. yes Belladonna or Hemlock would have worked too.. but with a helpful hand she got her will will to be with not so tiny “wings”..
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She is a trailblazer…so yes, no Belladonna or Hemlock for her…Well she’s free now ..ready to flap some wings 🙂
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Ah these nunneries. Liked the way you slipped in the ‘late husband’.
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Thanks. I heard these nunneries were fun in their own way …good fodder for stories 🙂
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An interesting take.
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Thanks Dawn.
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Such a shame to have your artistry squelched. Well told!
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Thanks Yolanda.
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The Prioress seems quite an interesting character 😉
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Does she remind you of someone you know? 🙂
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Of course 😉
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Shame – religion’s favourite weapon. Art is freedom – we can’t have that.
Good piece.
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Thanks Mick.
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Hello Ansumani! Yet abother fantastic piece of writing,a wonderful take on the prompt! 🙂
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Thanks Heidi.
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Girls nowadays! Excellent.
Visit Keith’s Ramblings!
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Thanks Keith.
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Ah looks like the Prioress seems to have a well of experience to draw upon. Nice one.
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Thanks!
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Interesting story, made even more so by the information you provide about female artists and what they had to sacrifice. SO unfair…
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Thanks. Yes, the world was very unfair for women and still continues to be in some areas.
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So true…
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Nicely written piece. Such an interesting bit of history here. I love that painting with the little girl and her expression.
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Thanks Amy.
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Nice take to the prompt
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Thanks!
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She was fortunate to have found such an obliging artist to help her out of her marriage. I love the understated reaction of the prioress – ‘risky behaviour’? Very good.
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Thanks Margaret
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I think the Prioress and the Countess will discover they have more in common than they think.
Great take on the prompt.
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Excellent! The ways women had to go to get what they wanted wasn’t always, err, conventional.
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I do like to learn something during these FF challenges – nicely done. I had no idea about the rich widowers being taken in as nuns 🙂
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Fascinating tale and an enjoyable history lesson. Like KT, I learned something new.
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Some of those nunneries in Medieval times were not exactly the same as those today. There are many stories that would cause scandal. Well written, Ansumani. — Suzanne
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Thanks Suzanne
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