I have a small book titled People In Art. It combines masterpieces from the Natinal Gallery, London, with literature from around the world in a unique portrayal of humanity through the eyes of the artist. The painting here, titled "The Morning Walk" is by Thomas Gainsborough, an English painter. Words selected for this painting are taken from The Ring, by Isak Dinesen, 1958. On a summer morning a hundred and fifty years ago a young Danish squire and his wife went for a walk on their land. They had been married a week. It had not been easy for them to get married, for the wife's family was high in rank and wealthier than the husband's..They were wonderfully happy. The stolen meetings and secret, tearful love letters were now things of the past. To God and man they were one; they could walk arm in arm in broad daylight and drive in the same carriage, and they would walk and drive so till the end of their days. Their distant paradise had descended to earth and had proved surprisingly, to be filled with the things of everyday life; with jesting and railleries, with breakfasts and suppers, with dogs, haymaking and sheep. Sigismund, the young husband, had promised himself that from now there should be no stone in his bride's path, nor should any shadow fall across it.....(the story comes to an end)......It was a lovely July morning. Little woolly clouds drifted high up in the sky, the air was full of sweet scents. Lise had on a white muslin frock and a large Italian straw hat. She and her husband took a path through the park; it wound on across the meadows, between small groves and groups of trees, to the sheep field. Sigismund was going to show his wife his sheep.......
I'm happy we have Valentine's Day to celebrate romance and love.....the conflicts of young lovers to finally the companionship of old age.
