"Hey - that's an Earth painting, isn't it?" Donna exclaimed. She'd been more than a bit bored by some of the abstract items that passed for 'art' in intergalactic circles, but this was something she could recognize - women in long dresses by the banks of a river or lake. It was pretty, if a bit splodgy.
"Yes," the Doctor confirmed. "A Seurat."
"A sewer-what?"
"Seurat, Donna. Georges Seurat. Post-impressionist. Contemporary of Van Gogh. I'm surprised to see this one in a public museum at all. It was in private hands for centuries." He reached out, as if to touch the painting, only to yank his hand back violently when the security force field stung his fingers.
Donna watched the play of emotions on his face - irritation at the insult to his digits, then a certain softness as his gaze lingered on the painting.
"I haven't seen this in a long while," he mused softly. "Not since…well, not since the day it was painted."
He remembered then…how lovely the day was, with sunlight sparkling on the water, and how very beautiful Rose had looked strolling on the green grass, laced carefully into rose-satin Victorian walking dress. She'd blushed prettily when the artist had asked if mademoiselle would do him the honor of standing for his painting, but she'd smiled for the Doctor the entire time.
A slight smile quirked his features as he recalled Rose's excitement when he'd explained how famous the artist was who'd asked to paint her, and how humorously fast her expression fell into a pout when he pulled up a scan of the finished product on the monitor, and she realized that she was just a blur of pink gown and golden hair. She'd reluctantly agreed when he pointed out that it was probably better for the timelines that she was not recognizable.
"Doctor?" Donna murmured with quiet concern.
He reached out towards the painting again, then dropped his hand with a sigh, carefully locking the memory of that moment of sunlight and laughter inside his hearts. He plastered an overly-bright smile on his face, and reached for Donna's hand.
**The painting is Women by the Water, by Georges Seurat