Authors note: Hello everyone. Thank you everyone for the positive feedback and comments they mean the world to me and have brightened my days. Thank you once again to Paul who continues to be my second set of eyes. ~ellie.
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"Historians name Michael-Angelo, DaVinci and Raphael as the big three of the Renaissance period. Our ancestor, Timoteo, was the Master that Raphael was apprenticed to as a young man," Zion said as they came upon several drawings by Raphael within the family antiquities housed within the auction house Zion ran.
"That means your ancestor taught him how to paint? I've never heard of an apprenticeship for artists before," she admitted. She knew her lack of education meant that she was way out of her depth here in this amazing place with Zion and his sister, Aria.
"Artists were highly regarded in history, it is only more recently that artists have struggled to receive sponsorship from wealthy families," Aria said.
"I expect most families found photographic portraits cheaper and much easier to obtain in more modern times," Cat laughed. "I love doing portraits though, because you can capture more personality than a photograph ever can. I've been working on some sketches for Matteo as a wedding present. Admittedly, it's more for myself than him, but I can show the subtle things others might miss if he posed for a camera." She tried to explain how she felt about the difference in portraiture. "I expect sculptors feel the same way about enhancing some physical aspects and disguising others."
"Some people like the reality of photographs," Aria argued.
"Can you show me a photo on your phone that you genuinely feel is an accurate depiction of how you look to others?" Cat asked, feeling like she needed to make a point. Aria had been so condescending all morning during her tour of the family antiquities while Zion seemed hell bent on giving her a history lesson. She didn't mind the history lesson, she actually found it fascinating, but she felt like an uneducated bogan and hated the fact that they were judging her in that light. Particularly Aria, who she had failed to find some common ground with and hoped that this might be it. She obviously loved art, but Cat's lack of knowledge when it came to the Masters seemed to annoy the young woman.
"I don't take selfies," Aria said quickly.
"How about your driver's licence?" Cat asked.
"That doesn't look like me at all," Aria shook her head.
"But it is you, and possibly how the photographer saw you in that moment of time. All I am saying is that with a painting you get a picture of the best you, with all your character and flair instead of a snapshot of one moment in time," Cat explained in the light of her admission.
"She makes a good point," Zion said. "So, you don't like photography?" he asked.
"Quite the opposite, I love it, it's just different, and I prefer paintings for the portraits of the people we love," she said. "I know that Peri was happy with the portrait I did for her of her family, and she had already had a professional photographer take their portrait and found it didn't convey what they all meant to each other."
"I'd like to see them both," Aria said, as if questioning not only her judgement but Peri's.
"I have them on my phone, if you would like a small look. It's not the same as seeing them up close though," she offered.
"I'd like to see," Zion said quickly. "Do you know what prompted her to seek out a portrait artist?"
"She has a degree in art history and has been working on the family history for a few years now. She has a love for how the families originally came together and were set up with such specific roles that always seemed to make the most of the men's skills and personalities. If you look at the photograph you can see them all, but it's difficult to tell what it is they do or the role they have," she explained and passed her phone to Zion, who looked at the official photographic portrait for the Donati table. "If you swipe right you will see the painting," she added.
"I've met with Peri and her team a few times about our family history," Zion admitted. "I know how passionate she is about it," he chuckled. "This is great. Do you know where they hung it?" he asked.
"I'm not a hundred percent sure, but I think it's at their house in the country, and Dante has a smaller print in the House of Lorraine," she frowned as the thought about it.
"And you did this in a matter of weeks?" he pressed her.
"I worked on it all day every day in that time, I doubt I could do something on that scale in that time frame again," she admitted.
"You have to admit, she's good, Aria," Zion tilted the phone towards his sister. "Can you send me the photo's?" he asked.
"Sorry, but no, I don't think so," Cat said sadly. "I signed a statement that I wouldn't circulate the images, or something along those lines. It was quite an involved non-disclosure agreement, but considering your family all knew what I had done, and some of them had seen the painting during the art show, I didn't think it would matter if I showed you the photos on my phone, but I can't send them to you, sorry."
"That's alright, I can check with Peri herself, if it will make you feel better," he shrugged as if it was no big deal. The more he talked with Cat, the more he liked her. She was loyal and obviously trustworthy, and she obviously made Matteo very happy. What she lacked in education she certainly made up for in other ways, despite his sister's disapproval. He knew that not everyone was fortunate enough to grow up in an affluent and loving family like their own.
"Yo, Zee! Where are you, man?" Chase called out as he entered the Depositary.
"Here," he shook his head and walked toward the entrance. "Just showing Cat some of the art she could use for their new penthouse."
"Paint something yourself, you're pretty good, from what I've heard and seen," Chase said.
"It's a time thing," Cat laughed. "Matt wants something for when we move in, instead of waiting for me to find the time. Planning a wedding so soon is a bit time consuming, I have found out, but Theresa had been a wonderful help."
"Speaking of which, Trista called, she's expecting me for a dress fitting this afternoon. What colour did you go with?" Aria asked.
"Champagne, I'm really not a fan of red, even though I know that was Theresa's preference," Cat said carefully, knowing a few of the Vitali women had wanted a red and white theme. She wasn't going to wear white and had kept her dress design a secret, even from the family after organising with Marina Battaglia to borrow Kate and Edith for a few weeks to make the gown.
She had been enjoying the tentative friendship with Marina that had started with a phone call after she arrived home. She still managed to speak to Lucia every couple of days as well, and had asked her to be her chief bridesmaid alongside Maryanne and Matteo's four sisters. Matteo wanted a traditional wedding which included all of his brothers as best men, and that had made it very difficult for Cat, who had never had many friends, and those from her past were just that, her past, and included ties to Ned. Lucia had understood the isolation that she had undergone with Ned and readily agreed to stand with her on her wedding day, becoming very excited about it and being her sounding board on dealing with Theresa and Matteo's sisters. There was a very fine line between asserting her own opinions and offending the Vitali women. Mia often sided with her, however, when she didn't like something Theresa wanted for the wedding, which helped a great deal.
"That's an unusual choice. I thought this was going to be a traditional wedding," Aria said with distaste.
"I think it will still be traditional," Cat smiled. "Matteo approved the colour, and he's the one who wants all the traditions. I would be just as happy to elope, to tell you the truth."
