第15部分(第3/7 頁)

fawning questions； would give me a dismissive response； and that he was

presently　in　the　midst　of　forgetting　who　I　was　altogether。

“There　is　no　single　measure　that　can　distinguish　the　great　miniaturist　from

the　unskilled　and　faithless　one；”　he　said　in　all　seriousness。　“This　changes　with

time。 Yet the skills and morality with which he would face the evils that

threaten our art are of significance。 Today； in order to determine just how

genuine　a　young　painter　is；　I’d　ask　him　three　questions。”

“And　what　would　they　be？”

“Has he e to believe； under the sway of recent custom as well as the

influence　of　the　Chinese　and　the　European　Franks；　that　he　ought　to　have　an

individual　painting　technique；　his　own　style？　As　an　illustrator；　does　he　want　to

have　a　manner；　an　aspect　distinct　from　others；　and　does　he　attempt　to　prove

this　by　signing　his　name　somewhere　in　his　work　like　the　Frankish　masters？　To

determine　precisely　these　things；　I’d　first　ask　him　a　question　about　”style‘　and

“signature。”“

“And　then？”　I　asked　respectfully。

“Then； I’d want to learn how this illustrator felt about volumes changing

hands； being unbound； and our pictures being used in other books and in

other　eras　after　the　shahs　and　sultans　who’d　missioned　them　have　died。

This　is　a　subtle　issue　demanding　a　response　beyond　one’s　being　simply　upset

or pleased by it。 Thus； I’d ask the illustrator a question about ”time‘—an

illustrator’s　time　and　Allah’s　time。　Do　you　follow　me；　my　child？“

Nay。　But　that’s　not　what　I　said。　Instead；　I　asked；　“And　the　third　question？”

“The　third　w