The court painter, who stood on one side, saluted Frances and smiled complimentingly, "Lady Surrey, I have made a sketch for Miss Isabel. ”

"Sir, please be seated." Frances smiled politely, then walked to the back left side of Isabel and leaned her face forward to examine the paper in her hand.

Seeing this, Isabel hurriedly stood up and handed the drawing paper to her, "Madam, please give your opinion on this sketch by the court painter. ”

"Well, this sketch by Mr. Holbein is smooth and realistic." Frances looked at it carefully and felt that it was very familiar, and then raised her head to look at the fishpond and the forest in front of her, "Isabel, is this fishpond painted by His Majesty's court painter?" ”

"Yes, do you see that he draws in detail and realistically?"

"Very true. It's just that this wood-facing guy ... It's me? The woman in the sketch with her graceful figure and bodysuit caught Frances's attention.

Isabel smiled lightly, "Yes, Lady Surrey. ”

"If you add color and paint the sun that is about to set, the picture becomes a very beautiful picture of a noble lady." Frances nodded thoughtfully. By this time, she had grown to like Hans Jr.'s failed work.

Isabel glanced at the overjoyed Lady Surrey, "Madam, if you like it, you can ask Holbein to give it to you." ”

Little Hans looked at the two noble women with great distress, "Madame, Miss, I beg your pardon, I don't plan to give such a work to others. ”

Frances looked up at him and smiled lightly, "Sir, I know this is not portraiture that you are good at. However, I love it and I am willing to ...... Buy it. ”

"Uh, ma'am, it's... I'm afraid it's hard for me. ”

"It's okay, I can think of it as a painting you painted just for me."

"All right, sir. Now, even Lady Surrey loves your paintings, so you won't object to my invitation, will you?" Isabel asked.

"Well, miss, when are you going to leave for Your Highness's manor?"

"Well, tomorrow?" Isabel turned her gaze back to Frances, "Ma'am, do you want to leave for Sussex tomorrow?" ”

Frances handed the paper to the maid, looked at the two of them and nodded, "If I could, I would like to leave this afternoon." Tomorrow is also possible, though. ”

"Madam, you are also going to Your Highness's manor with Miss Isabel?" Little Hans was a little curious.

"Yes, sir. Because I have a personal business to visit the Duke of Norfolk's domain, I'll go on my way with Isabel and you. Frances walked over to her chair and sat down.

Seeing that there was no disagreement between the two, Isabel made a final decision, "Mr. Holbein, on the issue of the honorarium for you to paint His Highness's estate, His Highness agreed to pay you 3 pounds per painting, do you think the price is appropriate?" ”

As the court painter to Henry VIII, Hans the Younger was paid an annual honorarium of £30, which was roughly equivalent to the honorariums of a female chamberlain who had served the court members for a long time. Although it is not a lot, it can make him live a very good life, and even allow him to be promoted to a gentleman.

Of course, as a court painter and professional painter who did not need to go to the court from time to time to paint portraits of kings, queens, and other members of the royal family, he could also undertake private paintings in his spare time, and give his works to nobles and ministers who liked his works in the form of half-selling, half-giving away.

Today, the Duke of Richmond has offered him a very satisfactory price for his work. This price can be said to be equivalent to the income of a hired worker for 6 months. In addition, a nobleman's territory is not as large as the average person can imagine, and even the lowest-ranking baron can usually get thousands of acres of land. If it were a county earl, a county marquis, or even a duke's domain, the size of the domain would be a very staggering amount.

If you want to paint all the buildings, production and living materials in a nobleman's domain, it will definitely not be a question of a few works, but a dozen or dozens of them. When the number of paintings reaches a certain number, he will receive a large honorarium, which will make his life more leisurely and comfortable in the future.

Under the temptation of money, little Hans gradually relaxed a somewhat depressed mood. With a friendly smile on his face, he looked at Isabel, "Miss, do you need me to paint all the scenes in His Highness's territory?" ”

Isabel thought for a moment, but only commanded, "Well, the main ones are the houses, the church, the garden, and the fish pond in the manor. As for the others, such as the school grounds, racetracks, hunting grounds, and forests, draw a rough picture. ”

"Yes, miss, I will be honored to serve His Most Noble Highness."

Eventually, Isabel consulted with the court painters about time. When the court painter and his assistant bid farewell to the two and left the garden, Frances's valet stopped him and whispered, "Madame, sir, will pay you the honorarium to-morrow." You tell me a price and I'll let Madame know when I get back. ”

At this time, little Hans Holbein was already very satisfied, and shook his head, "No need. I am very grateful that my wife can love this sketch so much, and I can give it to her to enjoy. ”

"Sir, Madame would like you to add some color and stuff to this painting."

"That's right. It's okay, I can revise this sketch for Madame after I've finished painting the scenery for His Highness. ”

"Yes, sir, I'll tell Madame."

Just after 11 o'clock, Isabel invited Frances to lunch at the Duke of Richmond's estate. During the feast, the two men had a very pleasant conversation, and Isabel referred to the sketch of the court painter, "Madame, you can ask your husband to paint portraits of you and your husband again." ”

Frances smiled lightly, "Well, good idea. However, we will have to wait until we return from Sussex. ”

Thinking of Hans the Younger's relationship with the Earl of Essex, the First Minister of State, and the current situation in which the Secretary of State was rebuked by Henry VIII, Isabel gazed at Lady Surrey with concern and whispered, "Madame, the business of painting had better be done quickly." I'm worried... Mr. Holbein will be implicated because of Queen Anne of Cleves. ”

Mrs. Surrey was a little puzzled by her words, and put down the wine glass in her hand in confusion, "Implicated? What do you mean, Isabel? ”

Isabel only said, "His Majesty was married to Queen Anne because of that portrait of your husband." ”