第41部分(第3/7 頁)

　a　painter’s　talent；　what　they　call　“style。”　Should　style　distinguish　a

good　artist　from　others　or　not？“

“Fear not；” I said； “a new style doesn’t spring from a miniaturist’s own

desire。　A　prince　dies；　a　shah　loses　a　battle；　a　seemingly　never…ending　era　ends；　a

workshop　is　closed　and　its　members　disband；　searching　for　other　homes　and

other　bibliophiles　to　bee　their　patrons。　One　day；　a　passionate　sultan

will　assemble　these　exiles；　these　bewildered　but　talented　refugee　miniaturists

and calligraphers； in his own tent or palace and begin to establish his own

book…arts workshop。 Even if these artists； unaccustomed to one another；

continue　at　first　in　their　respective　painting　styles；　over　time；　as　with　children

who　gradually　bee　friends　by　roughhousing　on　the　street；　they’ll　quarrel；

bond；　struggle　and　promise。　The　birth　of　a　new　style　is　the　result　of　years

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of disagreements； jealousies； rivalries and studies in color and painting。

Generally；　it’ll　be　the　most　gifted　member　of　the　workshop　who　fathers　this

form。 Let’s also call him the most fortunate。 To the rest of the miniaturists

falls　the　singular　duty　of　perfecting　and　refining　this　style　through　perpetual

imitation。”

Unable to look me straight in the eye； he assumed an unexpected gentle

manner； and begging my passion as much as my honesty； he asked me；

trembling　like　a　maiden：

“Do　I　have　a　style　of　my　own？”

I　thought　tears　would　flow　from　my　eyes。　With　all　the　gentleness；　sympathy

and　kindness　I　could　muster；　I　hastened　to　tell　him　what　I　believed　to　be　the

truth：

“