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Show Hannah Mae and the Mona Lisa 39 things in the Louvre are remarkable. Some things in the Louvre are extraordinary. And a few things are both." I interrupted. "What's the difference?" Mr. Morris and Miss Larkin looked at each other. Miss Larkin said, "I suspect everything in the Louvre is remarkable. Otherwise it wouldn't be there. The Louvre displays something because it is old, or unique, or because it was painted or sculpted by someone remarkable." Mr. Morris continued, "But only a small portion of the collection in the Louvre is what I would call extraordinary. Those are the paintings and sculptures that represent the pinnacle of their craft, ^^eryfinest^j^ '^'/5^> I was beginning to understand. "Is the Mona Lisa remarkable, or extraordinary?" "Ah, the Mona Lisa," answered Mr. Morris. "I think she is both. She's remarkable because she was painted by Leonardo da Vinci-artist, inventor, engineer . . . genius. That alone qualifies her for a prominent place in any museum collection. But she is also the most beautiful and the most striking work he created. At | ^J^JL. least, / think so. That makes her extraordinary. (\0- I had trouble spelling the word extraordinary. I tried twice and suddenly remembered Miss Larkin looking over Mr. Morris' shoulder at my picture in his sketchbook. "/ told you she was extraordinary!" she had said. My mind went blank. Mr. Morris stood. "Hannah, would you consider sitting for me?" I was already sitting. I fumbled with my notebook. Miss Larkin lifted my chin and looked into my eyes. "Mr. Morris wants to know if he can paint your portrait." |
