Behind the Canvas by Alexander Vance Read Free Book Online Page B

a second time. She thought the old woman would scold her again for asking a question, but Granny Custos stared at Claudia, looking as though she had a question of her own.
    â€œEvery generation produces a handful of Artisti . Incredible talent with brush or pen or chisel. But more so, they are born with a deep connection to the magic behind the art. It is no coincidence that when a civilization rises, art is its hallmark. That is because the Artisti are pillars of civilization. To be an Artisti is to lead culture, influence peoples, change the world. When the Artisti grow strong and flourish, civilization advances.”
    She paused, looking beyond Claudia and Pim and the walls of the room. “Since ancient times have the Artisti practiced their art. But a period came when the Artisti slipped into a well of greed. Selfishness. Fighting. Death. Those few who remained turned to the darker use of Artisti magic and faded into obscurity. The pillars of civilization were knocked away, and fall it did. The Dark Ages, historians call it. There were no Artisti to bring light. They were born, yes, they were born. But they lived not knowing who they were.”
    â€œAnd then the Renaissance came,” Pim said.
    â€œThe Renaissance did not just come,” Granny Custos said sternly. “It was built. It was ushered in. A young Artisti , a Spaniard, learned of the Artisti from a historian. He discovered his gifts, studied his craft, knew his mission. He went forth to find other Artisti —for there are ways to recognize them. Across Europe, he brought us together. Seven of us, there were. We learned side by side. We started in Italy, and through our work we influenced and enlightened in ways only Artisti can. It caught fire and spread slowly across the continent. As the Artisti art flourished, so did philosophy, trade, music, architecture, medicine. Civilization was lifted up again. The pillars were replaced.”
    Claudia could feel the look of disbelief on her face. “The Renaissance happened because of the Artisti ? All those great artists and thinkers—like da Vinci, Michelangelo 7 —they were great because of you ?”
    â€œWe lit the spark. Started the pendulum in motion. Influenced. That is how Artisti work. Besides, Leonardo was one of the seven.”
    â€œAnd so were you?” Claudia asked.
    â€œI was.”
    â€œYou realize that was, like, five hundred years ago.”
    â€œSome days, bambina , it feels like much more.”
    â€œAnd the world behind the canvas,” Pim asked, “what about that?”
    Granny Custos picked up a spatula and stirred the contents of her bowl thoughtfully. “It was the paint.”
    â€œThe paint?” Pim echoed.
    Granny Custos smiled broadly. “Ironic, no? We delved deep into Artisti magic. Uncovering secrets that had been lost for millennia. And yet that great discovery occurred simply with a new paint. Oil paint. Early on, we began to use oil paint instead of tempera. Van Eyck 8 saw it first—a ghost in his painting, or so he thought. Then others saw it, as well. Painted creations granted life on a plane beyond the painted surface. We found that the oils used to make the paint—linseed, walnut, safflower, poppy seed—bear strong ties to the cords of magic. When used in the powerful act of creating art, the miraculous occurs.
    â€œBut the creations we discovered were faded, erratic. Eventually we traded wooden panel for canvas—because the linen used in canvas came from the same plant as the linseed oil. That synergy of paint and canvas is all it took. A new world was established. Ah, but how to enter? That became the question. Many years of my young life were tied up in that pursuit. Theories. Experimentation. Trial and much error. And then I finally discovered a path that led straight through the canvas itself.”
    She tapped the fragile-looking page in front of her. “We crossed the canvas.”
    Claudia