link Sylvain volume_up
Ignatz! I've been looking all over for you.
link Ignatz volume_up
Oh! Uh, hello, Sylvain. Do you need something?
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Yeah, I actually... Oh, were you painting? Sorry! I didn't mean to interrupt.
link Ignatz volume_up
No, it's fine. What can I do for you?
link Sylvain volume_up
Actually, I was hoping you could take a look at this painting I brought back last time I was home.
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Hmmm... This style is rarely seen in Faerghus. It might be the work of an Imperial painter.
link Sylvain volume_up
Agreed. I don't think I've seen this style of brushwork used much in the Kingdom.
link Sylvain volume_up
My father's first wife was an Imperial noble, so maybe it was hers?
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I never knew that. Still, it's quite stunning.
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I know, right? That lady's really something.
link Ignatz volume_up
Er, I didn't mean the woman herself. Though of course she's lovely, too.
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The features of her face suggest such kindness. She actually resembles Lady Rhea, in a way.
link Sylvain volume_up
Thing is, I have no idea who she is or if she even exists in real life.
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Is that why you came to me? To see if I could uncover her identity?
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Pretty much. I really love this thing, so it's been bugging me for years. I thought maybe you could finally scratch the itch for me.
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I mean, everybody knows you're the go-to guy for anything related to art.
link Ignatz volume_up
Well, I'll do what I can, but please try not to get your hopes up. There's still a great deal I don't know.
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Though I must admit, my curiosity has been piqued as well.
link Sylvain volume_up
Oh, really? Thanks. I wouldn't have the first clue about how to go about this on my own.
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I mean, I'd at least have something to go on if it was a religious painting, but us Kingdom folk pretty much only care about fighting, you know?
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And our art books are... Well, let's just say they're lacking and leave it at that.
link Ignatz volume_up
Yes, I'm well aware. Sadly, while religious art has continued to thrive and grow, the same can't be said for its secular counterparts.
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I do get the impression that this portrait may actually be related to the Church of Seiros, though.
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You think? I don't know, I haven't noticed any of the usual elements of a Seiros composition.
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As I'm sure you know, paintings of legendary and sacred figures all share a certain pattern.
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Which is to say they're frequently depicted with their associated symbols.
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Yeah, like Saint Seiros with swords and Saint Cethleann with fish. But...I don't see anything even close to that here.
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Look at the birds. Don't they seem strangely prominent to you?
link Sylvain volume_up
I guess, now that you mention it. OK, so who was associated with birds... Saint Macuil, maybe?
link Sylvain volume_up
No, Saint Macuil was a guy. This is nothing like how he's usually depicted, either.
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I didn't expect you to be so knowledgeable, Sylvain! Er, no offense.
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To be honest, I always thought the two of us lived in entirely different worlds.
link Sylvain volume_up
Come on, you should know me better than that. I'm the biggest art connoisseur in all of Faerghus!
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Though I admit, at first I... I only studied it to impress the ladies.
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Sorry, I guess we still live in different worlds after all.