Maureen O'Leary American, b. 1965
Rome of Madame de Staël’s novels, 2023
Oil on linen
20 x 14 inches (50.8 x 35.6 cm)
CT-11196
“My former fiancé reenlisted months ago. Our engagement is destroyed. I think of him but I have heard nothing.” And Natasha told Polina of her betrayal. When the widower Prince...
“My former fiancé reenlisted months ago. Our engagement is destroyed. I think of him but I have heard nothing.”
And Natasha told Polina of her betrayal. When the widower Prince Andrei wished to marry her and she wished to marry him, Prince Andrei’s father withheld consent, demanding Prince Andrei go to Rome to reflect. Prince Andrei agreed out of pity for the old man, who mocked Prince Andrei, saying that Natasha was too young and that her family was in debt. Over the long wait in the winter of early 1812, Natasha despaired and in an odd moment was charmed by the forceful and persistent Prince Anatole Kuragin. She broke her engagement to Prince Andrei and even tried to try to elope with Anatole, but her cousin stopped her. (And Anatole turned out to be a married seducer!)
Prince Andrei would not see her or forgive her.
“Oh, Natasha,” sighed Polina not having anticipated such a past for her friend of not yet twenty, her friend who now bent her head on Polina’s shoulder.
“I find pleasure only in my solfeggios,” Natasha murmured.
“And your solfeggios are beautiful!” Polina shouted.
“I think of Corinne. But our poetry and music cannot live only in Madame de Staël’s novels, Natasha. Can it?”
And Natasha told Polina of her betrayal. When the widower Prince Andrei wished to marry her and she wished to marry him, Prince Andrei’s father withheld consent, demanding Prince Andrei go to Rome to reflect. Prince Andrei agreed out of pity for the old man, who mocked Prince Andrei, saying that Natasha was too young and that her family was in debt. Over the long wait in the winter of early 1812, Natasha despaired and in an odd moment was charmed by the forceful and persistent Prince Anatole Kuragin. She broke her engagement to Prince Andrei and even tried to try to elope with Anatole, but her cousin stopped her. (And Anatole turned out to be a married seducer!)
Prince Andrei would not see her or forgive her.
“Oh, Natasha,” sighed Polina not having anticipated such a past for her friend of not yet twenty, her friend who now bent her head on Polina’s shoulder.
“I find pleasure only in my solfeggios,” Natasha murmured.
“And your solfeggios are beautiful!” Polina shouted.
“I think of Corinne. But our poetry and music cannot live only in Madame de Staël’s novels, Natasha. Can it?”
