Artist Jesus Masdeu: Life, Works, and Marriage to Sofia
The Life and Art of Jesus Masdeu
The painter Jesus Masdeu was observed working diligently, a palette in his left hand and a brush in the other. He was adding some final touches to the tunic of Moses in his painting, *The Passage of the Red Sea*. Masdeu explained the difficulty of the piece, noting that painting on velvet was particularly complicated. He mentioned that once finished, the figure of Moses bore a striking resemblance to Mr. Valldaura.
Masdeu also painted tapestries, receiving commissions every two months. *The Passage of the Red Sea* presented many challenges, which he attributed to Mr. Rhodes, who had initially commissioned a piece depicting Adam and Eve but later suggested the Red Sea theme. One day, Jesus went to visit his godmother, taking with him the tapestry *The Rock of the Sirens*. It was a sound piece, and he had secured impressive prices for his work.
Masdeu hinted to Mrs. Valldaura that he would like to decorate a lobby with fire and water-stained colors. However, she indirectly declined, saying he still had a great life ahead of him. This left Masdeu feeling uninspired for his next tapestry. He eventually decided to depict Moses and a woman beside him. He envisioned Moses in a Prussian blue tunic and the woman in lemon yellow.
Personal Life and Work Ethic
Physically, Masdeu was described as [description missing from the original text]. He had been working for two years in a five-story house on Eudalt Gallery. Despite the announcement, he earned enough to lose the tapestry. Mr. Rodés did not pay for the hours he spent on the tapestry. However, *The Adulterous Woman* had been a profitable venture.
When he was young, Masdeu would often get confused with the brushes in the sink, much to his mother’s annoyance. He rented a high-roofed room to avoid disturbing her. Every fortnight, he would visit his parents in the evening, sharing supper and conversation. After washing his brushes, he would arrange them and return home, as he loved Mrs. Valldaura. The next morning, before heading to his workshop, he would buy food, mentioning that the butchers on Laietà Street were known for their good quality meat.
Weddings in Sofia
Sofia Eulalia accompanied him to the restroom, where Eulalia remarked that Eladi was deeply in love with her. Sofia looked in the mirror and replied, “And I?” During the church ceremony, Sofia recalled receiving hidden letters from Lluiset Roca when she was engaged. Her grandmother noticed her nervousness and offered advice, reminding her that Eladi sent her a package tied with a gold string every two months, always containing a pink *avien*.
During lunch, Sofia was very nervous, as it was her first day as Eladi’s wife. Seated next to Jesus Masdeu was a person not on the guest list, which Angel Rivera did not understand. After lunch, the newlyweds were escorted by Uncle Terence. They left without a word.
A New Home and a Revelation
Upon returning home, Eladi’s mother suggested that the couple live with her in a large tower where she lived alone. They accepted the offer. Once in their room, Sofia began to remove the needles and flowers from her hair. Eladi approached her slowly and began to undress her, but she refused, saying she didn’t want anything. Eladi, frustrated, said he couldn’t stand it anymore and had something important and urgent to tell her. He confessed that he had a daughter. Sofia remained silent for a moment, then stood up, approached the naked Eladi, and told him that now was the best time and that she didn’t care that he had a daughter. They kissed deeply and made love.
Afterward, Eladi lay in bed, breathing deeply and relaxing. Sofia went to the window and looked at the trees and plants outside. She thought she wanted Eladi’s daughter to live with them, but she knew she would never truly love him. The little girl was named Maria. After two years, the daughter contemplated the brightness of the moon, and they embraced, biting each other and laughing.