第14部分(第1/7 頁)

appeared　everywhere；　matching　the　tastes　of　mon　soldiers；　boorish　pashas

and　spoiled　princes。”

“How　much　would　they　go　for？”　asked　Master　Osman。

62

“I hear that the great Sadiki Bey illustrated a copy of Strange Creatures；

missioned　by　an　Uzbek　spahi　cavalryman；　for　only　forty　gold　pieces。　In　the

tent of a vulgar pasha who was returning from his Eastern campaign to

Erzurum；　I　beheld　an　album　consisting　of　lewd　pictures　including　paintings　by

the　virtuoso　Siyavush。　A　few　great　masters　who　hadn’t　abandoned　illustrating

were　making　and　selling　individual　pieces；　which　weren’t　part　of　any　story　at

all。 By examining such single leaves； you couldn’t tell which scene or which

story it represented； rather； you would admire it for its own sake； for the

pleasure of beholding alone。 For example； you might ment； ”This is the

exact　likeness　of　a　horse；　how　beautiful；“　and　you’d　pay　the　artist　on　this　basis。

Scenes　of　bat　or　fucking　are　quite　mon。　The　price　for　a　bustling　battle

has fallen to three hundred silver coins； and there are hardly any interested

clients。 To sell pieces on the cheap and to better lure a buyer； some simply

draw in black ink on nonsized； unfinished paper with nary a brushstroke of

color。”

“There was a gilder of mine who was content as content could be and

talented　as　talent　would　allow；”　said　Master　Osman。　“He　saw　to　his　work　with

such elegance that we referred to him as ”Elegant Effendi。“ But he has

abandoned us。 It’s been six days； and he’s not to be found anywhere。 He’