end　up　doing　the　drawing。

“You　do　not　always　need　to　have　seen　an　illustration　of　something　in　order

to　depict　that　thing；”　objected　the　refined　and　enthusiastic　old　man。

“Yes；　perhaps　not；”　said　the　master　illustrator。　“Yet；　if　the　picture　is　to　be

perfect；　the　way　the　masters　of　old　would’ve　made　it；　it　ought　to　be　drawn　at

least a thousand times before I attempt it。 No matter how masterful a

miniaturist　might　be；　when　he　paints　an　object　for　the　first　time；　he’ll　render

it　as　an　apprentice　would；　and　I　could　never　do　that。　I　cannot　put　my　mastery

aside　while　illustrating　Death；　this　yself。”

“Such a death might put you in touch with the subject matter；” quipped

the　old　man。

139

“It’s not experience of subject matter that makes us masters； it’s never

having　experienced　it　that　makes　us　masters。”

“Such　mastery　ought　to　be　acquainted　with　Death　then。”

In this manner； they entered into an elevated conversation with double

entendre； allusions； puns； obscure references and innuendos； as befit

miniaturists　who　respected　both　the　old　masters　as　well　as　their　own　talent。

Since　it　was　my　existence　that　was　being　discussed；　I　listened　intently　to　the

conversation； the entirety of which； I know； would bore the distinguished

miniaturists among us in this good coffeehouse。 Let me just say that there

came　a　point　when　the　discussion　touched　upon　the　following：

“Is the measure of a miniaturist’s talent the ability to depict everything

with　the　same　perfection　as　the　great　masters　or　the　ability　to　introduce　into

the　picture　s