Chapter 243 Tribute to Kara

Elliot took out a bouquet of white roses from the trunk of the SUV parked on the side of the road and placed it in front of the sculpture.

The secretary stood still for a moment.

"Miss"

She always felt that on the eve of an important shareholders' meeting, placing a bouquet of white roses in front of the bronze sculpture of the old Count Irina was a bit funeral-like. Frustrated.

Elliot glanced at the girl's face from the corner of his eye.

After all, she could only sigh insignificantly and handed the bouquet to Miss Elena.

Anna took the bouquet.

She bent down and placed the white roses on the table at the feet of the sculpture.

"I'm a little unsure, you think"

The girl Na tickled August's ears, letting his big pink tongue chase her fingers wearing black silk gloves tip.

Elliot hesitated for a moment.

She was not sure whether the other person was asking herself questions at this time, or whether she was talking to herself with her hound.

"Will the new management remove this bronze statue and destroy it?"

"How could this be a gift from citizens to the magazine? What authority do they have to do this?" "Something"

After hearing the second half of the sentence, the secretary immediately called out.

Because she was too shocked and angry, the young working girl’s mind went blank for a while.

A look of extreme astonishment appeared on her face, "Even if Sir Brown had this plan, the city government and the residents of Glitz City would not be willing to agree to such a thing."

"Really?"

Anna smiled self-deprecatingly, "I, the last daughter of the Elena family, don't have the confidence you have, Elliot."

"But Mr. Earl's sculpture has been erected here for more than a century. It is the patron saint of artists in the hearts of people around the world." Elliot pinched his fingers and said uneasily.

“This sculpture is part of the Oil Painting Magazine and part of the city of Gleze.”

The secretary’s tone became more and more firm, “It should be the same as the museum of Princess Sissi, Mozart’s former residence, like the café in Vienna where Zweig wrote about the world of yesterday, has become an eternal mark of Austrian culture.”

“Without the old count’s contribution to art, there would be no Oil Painting Magazine today. Brilliant, not only do they want to drive you away, miss, but they can’t even accommodate a pitiful statue.”

Austria in the 19th century was still known as the cultural heart of Europe.

People always said then.

London is in a corner, and Paris is just the capital of a kingdom.

Only when a European comes to Austria and stands on the Heroes' Square built by Emperor Joseph outside the Hofburg Palace, looking at the towering monuments, bronze sculptures weighing several tons, and hundreds of meters wide. Straight streets.

Only when the magnificent imperial palace in neoclassical styleWhen the palace slowly unfolded in front of him.

Only then will he truly understand what a prosperous empire looks like.

At that time, more than one-third of the celebrities and masters in the Western world had lived and settled here.

Nowadays, many of the former residences of musicians, cafes where literary masters gathered in groups, and libraries where philosophers held debates have remained as permanent cultural relics.

Austrians use them to reminisce about the moment when they once had infinite glory on the world stage.

As a native of Glitz City.

Elliot grew up looking at this bronze statue in front of the Oil Painting Magazine.

This has become part of her cultural understanding of this land.

How can it disappear?

Don’t say Miss Elena finds it unacceptable.

Even her secretary couldn't accept it

"Nothing lasts forever, dear Eliot. My great-great-grandfather was just a lover of art. If not more For a little money, he really can't compare with masters like Zweig and Mozart."

Anna didn't show much loneliness on her face.

“Since it is part of the world of yesterday, when the magazine wants to turn over the whole story and stride towards the future in their eyes, removing this statue is a very symbolic thing. "

"Even the Austrian cabinet's finance department has approved the sale of shares of the National Publishing Group, and the city government will make the necessary concessions."

She just said. Gently tapping the base of the bronze sculpture with his knuckles, "That's why I want to stay here a little longer today. I may not be able to see it in the future. I don't know if they will allow me to move this sculpture back to my own." Go home. Now I understand a little bit how I felt when I visited Mr. Otto with my aunt when I was a child, and he showed me the photos of the old palace.”

Note here Otto refers to the longevity of the historical figure. Archduke Otto, Otto von Habsburg, was the last crown prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire during World War I. He did not die until 2011. He is a famous restorationist in Europe.

"This is probably how I feel when my descendants are incompetent and feel ashamed of their ancestors."

"But I can't blame you."

Secretary Eliot Te, she pursed her lips in distress.

Those bankers are all jackals and leopards who are good at tearing other people's property into pieces.

How could Miss Elena, a young girl who is so cold, stubborn and unwilling to compromise, be able to fight against them?

"I'm not as sad as you think, just a little bit It’s just a feeling. There is nothing to regret. When my ancestors founded this magazine, they never imagined that they would become a sculpture and stay here for a hundred years."

"On the contrary. , there were many people who thought he was a playboy."

Anna was lost in thought.Talk to yourself.

"You know, my great-great-grandfather was the first in his family to say at a public banquet that if given the choice, I would rather be a painter than be a cavalryman beside the emperor. He was a weirdo who was a colonel. At that time, his father almost went crazy, and even his own friends and staff found it difficult to understand."

"Historically, when he said this. In the winter of the same year when he said this, the old earl’s father, who was already in poor health, passed away. It’s hard to say that there is no direct connection between the two.”

Anna said in a cold joke tone, “Sounds like a real one. A playboy who doesn’t do his job properly, right?”

Elliot sniffed slightly in embarrassment.

She didn’t know that Miss Elena would mention such a thing at such a time.

The female secretary can imagine it.

When the old count said this, the atmosphere at the banquet must have been so cold that you could hear it.

The "weirdo" assessment is really accurate.

In that special era when the atmosphere of military aristocracy was so strong, every high-ranking aristocratic child would try their best to cultivate connections and send themselves to work as servants in the Habsburg court.

Speaking like this,

is like the eldest son of a high-ranking official in the feudal era of Eastern Xia who declared that he would rather sing on the stage than serve as an imperial minister in the palace. The bodyguards serve the emperor.

It is not unjust to have servants drag him down or beat him to death on the spot.

It is true that the social status of artists, musicians, and writers is much higher than that of low-level actors.

But when it comes to the big aristocratic families in the core circle.

Only two types of career plans.

Either the German general Ludendorff takes the traditional military aristocratic route, or the statesman Bismarck takes the route of a senior civilian official who joined the cabinet from the House of Lords.

Everything else is just the dandy behavior of a playboy.

Tell the truth.

Whether it is the famous World War I general Ludendorff or the iron-blooded prime minister Bismarck.

They all came from a gradually declining small aristocracy, and their family backgrounds were far inferior to the Elena family in terms of their prominence.

It is indeed possible that a son who likes to make such declarations that are completely inconsistent with the temperament of the times will make his father angry to death.

Elliot tried to figure out Miss Elena’s mood.

She was hesitating.

Does Anna want to hear her agree that the old count is a playboy who makes her father angry, or does she want to hear her refutation?

It’s really confusing

"The old Earl is just a bit forward-looking."

Elliot finally decided to choose the latter.

The secretary carefully considered her old impression of her employer's piety and yearning for art.

Throw Ms. Elena into that era.

Presumably this lady also knows how to do itPeople who do the same weird things in everyone's eyes.

"This is true. Anyway, everyone lost miserably in World War I, and Austria's role in World War II was equally disgraceful. In the long run, the Elena family really needs to thank the old Earl. The family's focus has completely shifted to the field of art. This inadvertently allowed our ancestors to escape from the quagmire of the war and be saved from the collapse of the intricate military aristocratic system."

"Not to mention, full of black humor, artists are now a more respected group than nobles and earls."

Anna said with a smile.

From the 19th century to the 20th century and then to the 21st century, the social status of artists has been rising. The aristocracy is constantly falling apart and in turmoil.

Art has been integrated into everyone's life, and the dregs of the past such as His Majesty the Emperor and His Excellency the Marquis have long become dispensable.

As early as 1899, when the musician Strauss died.

The citizens of Austria buried their beloved artist with the same high courtesy as a monarch. More than 100,000 citizens attended his funeral.

And in modern times.

Even when Queen Elizabeth once invited an Italian painter she liked to have dinner with her at Buckingham Palace, the artist even had to put on airs.

After many invitations, with as much sincerity as three visits to the thatched cottage, the master painter Shi Shiran agreed to meet his "fan".

On the contrary, on the European continent, it is not uncommon for a young man with the unpopular title of baron or earl on his passport to ride a bicycle in the streets and alleys to deliver Miller pizza every day.

In the old days, the king Xietang Qianyan flew into the homes of ordinary people.

Without the protection of ancestral wealth.

Nowadays, the nobility is just fake upper class, and the great artists who spend a lot of money on their paintings are the real celebrities.

The reason why Irina’s family is still so respected by society is the contribution of the oil painting magazine in their hands.

It is much more important than the dispensable title of earl and Miss Anna Elena, whose middle name "Von" was removed by Austrian law from her surname.

"Just like the oil painting management now feels that you are stubborn and unwilling to change, but the future will eventually prove that you are the right party. I feel that you and your ancestors carry the same temperament."

The female secretary hoped to dispel the somewhat depressing and solemn atmosphere in the surrounding environment, and praised in a low voice.

"Thank you, Elliot, I'm very touched."

Miss Elena turned her head, glanced at the young girl behind her in a professional skirt, and nodded to her in thanks.

"However, what I just wanted to express was not to praise my great-great-great-grandfather's decision as a great one. I wanted to say something else."

"Since today it is possible It's the day when I'm completely kicked out of this building. Then youDo you want to hear the story behind when my ancestors founded this magazine?"

Anna crossed her hands, raised her head and looked at the sculpture of her ancestors in front of her.

"Yes When some biographers wrote this story, they used a solemn tone to portray my ancestor as a shrewd politician, saying that he read in advance during the last half century of the Habsburg dynasty. out of the dark clouds hanging over Europe. "

"When other traditional European aristocratic families still had optimistic expectations for the future. The old earl had already predicted that the war was bound to happen, and had withdrawn from the center of the whirlpool of political struggles very early, with far-reaching plans."

Anna couldn't help but reveal a strange look in the corners of her eyes.

Miss Elena took a breath, and it was unclear whether the expression on her face was a bitter smile or some other more complicated emotion.

"I guess, he was I founded an oil painting magazine just because I wanted to make my father angry. It's that simple reason, nothing more. "

"This is my great-great-grandfather's revenge, revenge against his father, and revenge against the entire family. "Anna shook her head.

"Revenge"

The answer to the female secretary Elliot was completely unexpected.

She frowned in confusion.

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"Come here, Elliot, please stand beside me and look at this statue. ”

Anna clapped her hands gently.

Elliot raised his hand again, glanced at the hand of the watch, and hesitated to speak.

Today is the last day that the last heiress of the Irina family nominally rules the oil painting magazine, under the bronze statue of her ancestor.

Miss Irina, who has always had a cold personality, looks like It was a rare display of serious conversation.

She waved to her secretary nonchalantly.

Elliot thought about it and walked a few meters behind the wheelchair.

She is a native of Glitz City and is very curious about the mysterious and glorious Elena family, which is a cultural symbol in the city.

After all, if not. Today is a special occasion.

A secretary like her may never have the opportunity to hear the secrets in the shadow of such a legendary family.

She said she didn’t want to hear the story. It’s definitely fake.

“You can see the inscription on the book page in the sculpture’s hand. You know that sentence without me telling you.What are the words. ”

Miss Irina stretched out her finger to show to her secretary.

Elliot looked up.

The wave of sculptural subjects in the 20th century was even more intense. He prefers expressionism, but master sculptor Ke Bulland prefers to create realistic sculptures with a sense of strength and blockiness in sculptural figures, and his artistic style leans toward classicism.

This is Elaine smoking and reading a magazine. Count Elena is the representative work of Kebreland's career.

The sculptor spent a lot of effort to express the figure and appearance of the old Count Elena.

The smallest wrinkles at the corners of his clothes are perfectly sculpted.

When Eliot stood in front of the two-meter-high statue,

This important figure in the history of art appeared. She looked down at the secretary as if she suddenly came to life.

She raised her head in awe and looked in the direction of Anna's finger.

This statue was presented by the citizens of Glitz City. In the shape of the bronze statue, the old earl finally took off the serious and boring uniform of a senior officer of the cavalry regiment that he had worn all his life.

Like an artist attending a banquet, he put on something more personal. Wearing a long hem tuxedo with a brooch on her chest

Mr. Irina holds a pipe between the fingers of her left arm and holds a magazine in front of her eyes.

and oil painting magazines, the two things that the old count devoted the most to in his life.

After being turned into statues, they still stay with him faithfully.

The master sculptor's skills are extremely superb.

Eliot could even see the German text engraved on the pages of the oil painting magazine rolled up on the back.

“Noble works of art cannot be told by critics. Able to speak. A noble soul cannot be bound by the world, and she will find freedom on her own.

Salute to Ms. K”

The secretary read word for word.

In fact, even if Eliot couldn’t see clearly the engravings on the copper pages

She can also memorize every word in this sentence very clearly

From the first issue of the magazine published one hundred and fifty years ago. .

The same sentence is printed on the end pages of every issue of the oil painting magazine, regardless of the early German publications or the later English and French editions. .

"Salute to Ms. K"

This sentence has been printed in millions of copies and is known to every reader and collector who has subscribed to the oil painting magazine. < /p>

In the field of art, it is known to every household like a biblical story.

Noble art cannot be told by critics, and its noble soul cannot be told by the world. Restraint, she will find freedom.

This aphorism is probably the purpose of the magazine, and it is not difficult to understand that there is only one that lasts for a hundred years. mystery, suspensionIn the hearts of many collectors.

The question that has puzzled many people for a long time is the "k" in the tribute to Ms. K. Who does she represent?

"The original will of old Count Irina is still lying in the In the archives of my manor. The first thing above is to ask future generations, whoever inherits the oil painting magazine, to keep this tradition printed on the last page of each issue. , chanted it thousands of times."

Anna thought of the original will with yellowed pages that she had seen.

“This is quite like a hide-and-seek game played by the official of the magazine and collectors and art lovers all over the world. Who is k? Some people speculate that it is the lover that my great-great-grandfather met when he was young. Some people It is said to be a teacher who taught him his artistic enlightenment. Others say it is the initials of the word art in German. To this day, the magazine still receives guesses about K’s true identity from various readers around the world. Letter. The magazine even issued a special announcement stating that they did not know the details of the matter."

"So, don't you want to know who this Ms. K is?"

Secretary Elliot's gray eyes were wide open and she nodded like a chicken pecking at rice.

Who is Ms. K?

In the field of art, this is like whether the $500 million Salvator Mundi was painted by Leonardo da Vinci himself.

This is a gossip that will always cause quarrels on the Internet.

Various self-media interpretations that seem to have a beginning but are actually based on rumors are all over the Internet, but most of them seem unreliable.

Elliot thought this would be an eternal mystery, until today Anna actually took the initiative to mention it to her.

"It's not an important secret. There were many people who knew K's identity during the old count's time, but it was by no means a glorious thing and no one wanted to mention it. In fact, the mystery lies within the mystery. "Up."

Elena pointed to the nameplate below the sculpture.

“Her name is Carla, she is the aunt my great-great-grandfather mentioned in the preface of Oil Painting Magazine who took him to Melk Abbey. She was very bold and went to France to become a painter. ."

"That's right."

Elliot stuck out his tongue.

The old count’s aunt.

This answer cannot be said to be good or bad. It is an unexpected and reasonable answer.

There is no romantic love between a rich man and Cinderella that makes Eliot imagine it.

After the mystery faded away, she was even a little disappointed.

"Female painters are very admirable."

Elliot originally wanted to ask her if she had any famous works.

However, the secretary with high emotional intelligence took into account that there were only a few famous female artists in that era, and they were so rare that everyone wished they had their own special biography.piece.

Several others have been adapted into literary films.

Since she couldn’t think of anyone named Carla among them, she couldn’t get ahead with the resources of the Elena family.

I can only say roughly, probably, that my career is indeed not very successful.

"Have you never heard of this name? She has almost no works left down. She didn't even paint for a few years before she was captured by the housekeeper and her servants and locked in the cellar of her home until she died."

“My great-great-grandfather’s father, the Count who once laughed happily when his guests praised him as a great patron of artists, just because his sister became a real artist, he and his The father forced the other party to death with his own hands."

Anna whispered softly like a dream, "So the name behind the Irina family is not as noble and clean as everyone thinks, right?" Please remember to collect it, The latest and fastest website for free reading without anti-theft