and when he depicted the sorrow of legendary lovers; the wrath of a sword…
bearing; enraged shah; and a hero’s expression of fear as he dodged the attack
of a dragon。
“Perhaps Enishte wanted Olive to do the last picture that would show in
great detail; in the style of the Europeans; Our Sultan’s face and manner of
sitting;” Black said。
Was he trying to confuse me?
“Supposing this were the case; after Olive killed Enishte; why would he
abscond with a picture he was already familiar with?” I said。 “Or; if you like;
why would he murder Enishte in order to see that picture?”
We both pondered these questions for a while。
“Because there’s something missing in that painting;” said Black。 “Or
because he regrets something he did and is scared by it。 Or even…” he
thought for a while。 “Or; having killed Enishte; he might’ve taken the painting
to do further harm; for the sake of having a memento; or even for no reason at
all。 Olive is; after all; a great illustrator who’d naturally have a lot of respect for
a beautiful painting。”
281
“We’ve already discussed in what ways Olive is a great illustrator;” I said;
growing angry。 “But none of Enishte’s illustrations is beautiful。”
“We haven’t yet seen the last painting;” Black said boldly。
The Attributes of Butterfly
He is known as Hasan Chelebi from the Gunpowder Factory district; but to me
he’s always been “Butterfly。” This nickname always reminds me of the beauty
of his boyhood and youth: He was so handsome that those who saw him
didn’t believe their eyes and wanted a second look。 I’ve always been
astonished by the miracle of his being as talented as he is handsome。 He’s a
master of color and this is his greatest strength; he painted passionately;
reeling with the pleasure of applying color。 But I cautioned Black that Butterfly
was flighty; aimless and indecisive。 Anxious to be just; I added: He’s a genuine
miniaturist who paints from the heart。 If the arts of ornamentation are not
meant to cater to intelligence; to speak to the animal within us; or to bolster
the pride of the Sultan; that is; if this art is meant to be only a festival for the
eyes; then Butterfly is indeed a true miniaturist。 He makes wide; easy; blithe
curves; as if he’d taken lessons from the masters of Kazvin forty years ago; he
confidently applies his bright; pure colors; and there’s always a gentle
circularity hidden in the arrangement of his paintings; but I’m the one who