Post by Mercy on May 22, 2014 4:43:58 GMT -5
''Ms Ravenbrand, I'm afraid you were swindled. You see this little curled tick over the signature?''
Passed the eyepiece, she leaned in carefully to scrutinize the section in question: placing the glass just in front of the area to magnify it. As soon as he pointed it out she could see it, a curious tick that curled at both ends that seemed to weave in and out of the artists sprawling signature. Returning the jewellers loop back to her assayer she straightened up and tapped a finger impatiently on the edge of the table. Her eyebrow had risen as she turned her full attention on the wizened little human, but the expression failed to rattle him. He had dealt with much in his line of work and he was all too aware of how valuable his time was; an impatient sneak thief wasn't the worst that could happen to him, and he was well protected which accounted for his tendency to at times descend into prolixity.
Heaving a sigh, he waved a hand at the painting itself. It showed a naked dark haired human woman sprawled asleep at the side of a lake covered with virescent lily pads in full bloom. The attention to detail and use of colour was astonishing, looking upon the painting you expected to see the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed, the flicker of an eyelid, or the stirring of a breeze across the lake. Clearing his throat, he used his finger to outline the figure of the woman as he spoke, just barely touching at various parts of her anatomy: the hair, a gently curled hand, her leg.
''It indicates, my dear, that this work was done by one of her students, not the Master herself. It is possible she painted the woman or at least part of her, otherwise she could not have been able to affix her signature to the piece upon completion. But the majority of this work was certainly done by the student, which drops its value considerably.''
A frown creased an otherwise beautific ebony face, Mercy's own finger tapping out a steady rhythm on the wood. She had heard about the painting through the grapevine, a merchant had been bragging about this find – an unknown work by the somewhat famous artist Glysni Tannyth – and so Mercy had propositioned the merchant as soon as she was able. By propositioned, that is, she challenged him to notice her taking the painting from beneath his bulbous nose. At this stage she doubted he even knew it was missing in the first place.
Seeing her frown, the assayer lifted a placating hand.
''It is still worth something. In fact, I know a collector in Bryony who would be interested in such a piece, no questions asked, if you still wish to sell it on .. ?''
Some gold was better than none at all, and so the drow nodded her head briefly. At this stage anything she got would be a profit as the merchant had been so easy to rob blind it had almost been a joke!
''Excellent. I shall make the necessary arrangements and will contact you once the deal is made.''
With that he turned and began to prepare the painting for storage. Because of its purloined status it would be best to move it on as quickly as possible, but he was professional enough to take care of it as if it were going to be in his hands for a very long time just in case things went sour, and it was wise to ensure no harm befell it. With the transaction mostly complete, Mercy shifted herself and made for the door. Around her there was a myriad of bijoux items that were waiting to be sold .. some legitimately achieved, some found on adventures, and some she had sold onto the assayer herself that had been gained under not so innocent circumstances. She was almost growing to trust the little old man, as he had sent some solid coin her way and often had a word or two of information so that she could earn more.
It was a good business.
Passed the eyepiece, she leaned in carefully to scrutinize the section in question: placing the glass just in front of the area to magnify it. As soon as he pointed it out she could see it, a curious tick that curled at both ends that seemed to weave in and out of the artists sprawling signature. Returning the jewellers loop back to her assayer she straightened up and tapped a finger impatiently on the edge of the table. Her eyebrow had risen as she turned her full attention on the wizened little human, but the expression failed to rattle him. He had dealt with much in his line of work and he was all too aware of how valuable his time was; an impatient sneak thief wasn't the worst that could happen to him, and he was well protected which accounted for his tendency to at times descend into prolixity.
Heaving a sigh, he waved a hand at the painting itself. It showed a naked dark haired human woman sprawled asleep at the side of a lake covered with virescent lily pads in full bloom. The attention to detail and use of colour was astonishing, looking upon the painting you expected to see the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed, the flicker of an eyelid, or the stirring of a breeze across the lake. Clearing his throat, he used his finger to outline the figure of the woman as he spoke, just barely touching at various parts of her anatomy: the hair, a gently curled hand, her leg.
''It indicates, my dear, that this work was done by one of her students, not the Master herself. It is possible she painted the woman or at least part of her, otherwise she could not have been able to affix her signature to the piece upon completion. But the majority of this work was certainly done by the student, which drops its value considerably.''
A frown creased an otherwise beautific ebony face, Mercy's own finger tapping out a steady rhythm on the wood. She had heard about the painting through the grapevine, a merchant had been bragging about this find – an unknown work by the somewhat famous artist Glysni Tannyth – and so Mercy had propositioned the merchant as soon as she was able. By propositioned, that is, she challenged him to notice her taking the painting from beneath his bulbous nose. At this stage she doubted he even knew it was missing in the first place.
Seeing her frown, the assayer lifted a placating hand.
''It is still worth something. In fact, I know a collector in Bryony who would be interested in such a piece, no questions asked, if you still wish to sell it on .. ?''
Some gold was better than none at all, and so the drow nodded her head briefly. At this stage anything she got would be a profit as the merchant had been so easy to rob blind it had almost been a joke!
''Excellent. I shall make the necessary arrangements and will contact you once the deal is made.''
With that he turned and began to prepare the painting for storage. Because of its purloined status it would be best to move it on as quickly as possible, but he was professional enough to take care of it as if it were going to be in his hands for a very long time just in case things went sour, and it was wise to ensure no harm befell it. With the transaction mostly complete, Mercy shifted herself and made for the door. Around her there was a myriad of bijoux items that were waiting to be sold .. some legitimately achieved, some found on adventures, and some she had sold onto the assayer herself that had been gained under not so innocent circumstances. She was almost growing to trust the little old man, as he had sent some solid coin her way and often had a word or two of information so that she could earn more.
It was a good business.
