Riley & Madeline's at the Louvre
It was a bright Saturday weekend. And both Madeline and Riley had been invited to their good friend Emily's art show at her school. Madeline and Riley sat with their friend. Both girls were listening very eagerly to Emily's art teacher, Miss Bass as she explained different types of art. After the show, as Hellen was driving the twins back to the old house. Madeline hoped that she could be an artist one day.
: In an old house in Paris that was covered with Vines lived thirteen little girls, in two straights lines
(Chime)
: They left the house at Half passed nine the oldest one was Riley and the smallest one was Madeline
A bird flew down onto Madeline's hand
: there is a snall parisian street where people of great talent meet.
All the girls who were very intrigued go "Ohhhh"
: and going there is quite a treat. musicians, mimes with red suspender...
As the girls laugh
As the group walked down the street
: Dancer Clown, and Ice Cream Vendors, and the most colorful if not the smartest, are the many many, artists. they paint one picture, then another.
Danielle and Nicole giggled as they passed the artists.
: they will sketch your cat or dog or mother, one artist they knew quite well was an old friend of Miss Clavel!
Miss Clavel smiled fondly at her old friend and said "Bonjour Ludwig, how are you?"
Ludwig smiled brightly and said "Très bien, Mademoiselle. you are looking well. and so of course ,are the little girls.
All 13 girls said "Merci Monsieur Ludwig"
: Ludwig's goatee was white as snow. and his eyebrows wiggled to and for. the whole world was his studio.
All the girls said "Draw me!"
Ludwig looked over the group of 12 little girls and his eyes shone brightly
As Madeline fed the two birds.
Ludwig quickly sketched her and gave Madeline the picture.
Madeline said "formidable!
All the girls "Ahh"
Riley who was a little jealous (But it didn't show on her face) said "That is you Madeline?"
Madeline looked at her sister and nodded and then looking back at the artist, the small girl said "How I wish I could draw like you. Ludwig"
Ludwig said "You can try Madeline, but it takes a lot of hard work."
As soon as the girls got home that day Madeline was determined to get started.
: so Madeline sat down with paint and a brush.
Madeline was working so hard that she didn't even see Miss Clavel bring out her lunch for her.
Madeline sighed and said "My first painting looks a lot like mush.!" then looking at her lunch, Madeline whispered to her self yuck.
Miss Clavel looked at the painting and almost laughed out loud. But the teacher cleared her throat and said Aham "Just keep trying mes petite, it will come to you. You must have patience"
Riley looked at her sister's painting as well. And Hearing what her teacher had said the older twin thought to herself. oh Boy Madeline doesn't really have Patience !
: so Madeline took another try but it resembled a mud pie. she used charcoal, inks, and oil. how our Madeline did toil but each new work was quick to spoil. every doodle, sketch, or copy was very rough or down right sloppy. finally with an sudden. thrush she threw her brushes down in disgust.
Miss Clavel put her arm around her distraught student and said "I know you are frustrated, Madeline.
Madeline Sighed and frowned
Miss Clavel said "But that is no reason to give up. perhaps Ludwig can come and tutor you.
Madeline looked at her teacher with hopeful eyes and said "Do you mean it? would he?"
Miss Clavel said "I will give him a call.
: the very next day at ten to four Ludwig came to their front door and squirted paint upon the floor.
Ludwig said "Oh pardon medallion, I- I am terribly sorry"
Miss Clavel said "Do not worry Ludwig, we can clean it up but perhaps you had better work outside in the garden"
Ludwig said "Certainment, as he, Madeline and Riley made their way out to the garden.
Ludwig began his lesson by saying now Madeline there are many kinds of painting styles- Baroque, Neoclassical, Rococo! Romantic.
Madeline said confused "Hmm.. he does not look very romantic to me.
Riley said "Aw I see Madeline, he isn't romantic like a man, and a woman getting married, he is trying to make the horse go up see that sword"
Ludwig said "Good eye Riley, Ahh but romantic artists show feeling, and emotion, and regardé! Strong color, and Dramatic Pose.
Madeline said "Aw I see what you mean Ludwig"
Riley said oui that is what Miss Bass the art teacher was teaching us at Emily school two weeks ago at the art show.
Ludwig said "And here are some examples of realism, Impressionism, Post Impressionism, and Cubism.
Madeline studied the painting and smiled as she said "These are not just cubes, I see some fruit, and a bottle, and a guitar"
Ludwig said "Cubism Painters use colors, and shapes to represent their ideas, and feelings.
Madeline quickly sketched a picture and said "Look Ludwig, Cubist.
Ludwig said "Oui très bien Madeline, but you need ' not copy the great work, you should be painting what is important to you, paint what you feel, paint what you see, remember, no one else is you"
Madeline and Riley looked at each other and smiled as Ludwig began to sing.
Ludwig
No one else is you, I know that to be true.
From Paris to Peru, no one else is you.
You can search the whole town each new day and each week.
But you won't find your double 'cause you're quite unique.
Ludwig and Miss Clavel
No one else is you, I know that to be true.
From Wabash to Waterloo, no one else is you!
Ludwig
No one has your daydreams.
No one has your style.
And no one has your giggle.
No one has your smile.
You can search the whole world.
Every planet, every star.
But you will never find someone who's just the way you are.
Ludwig, Miss Clavel
No one else is you.
I know that to be true.
From Maine to Manitou, no one else is you!
The very next day, Madeline was back in the garden with new determination.
Madeline said to herself "Paint what I feel. paint what I see, because no one else is me. Ahh
: for the next fourteen days Madeline sat near the house. she was quieter then the little gray mouse. and she soon had paint splatted all over her blouse.
The small girl was working so hard that she didn't even see her sister come out of the house.
Riley said "Madeline time for lunch, Madeline didn't even look up though. As Riley turned to make her way back inside, the older twin said to herself. oh why do I brother she wouldn't listen"
Finally after two days
Madeline said C'est Fini ! oui it is finally done!"
: It was the day of great elation when Madeline reveled her new creation.
Madeline uncovered her picture and said "Voila"
: It's true cause a grand sensation.
Madeline said "I called it "La Maison Vieille- The Old House"
Miss Clavel said "Oh Madeline, it is magnifique!"
Riley came over and hugged her sister and said "Oh Maddie it's great, I should've never doubted you."
Madeline smiled said "I painted what was important to me- what I saw, and what I felt,
Miss Clavel said "We must show Ludwig"
: so Miss Clavel called Danton 10 04 and soon Ludwig sauntered thought the door carful to avoid the floor.
Riley said "Ludwig come and see, Madeline's painting of the Old House"
Ludwig said Ahh! Formidable. Madeline. you must get a beautiful frame for such a fabulous picture"
: the next day, it was Madeline's aim to provide her picture with a frame. and as she strolled, she gained more fame. People ahh! and People ohh! that painted pleased a multitude.
As the girls walked into the frame shop the clerk said " Quelle. Merveilleux This painting deserves our best frame!"
As they left the shop, The group was surrounded by people. Riley said "Back away people, back away thank you, come Maddie.
: it put the word in a good mood.
Lady said "Ahh that painting should be in the Louvre!"
Man said "Oui oui in the Louvre!"
Chloe said confused said "Miss Clavel what is the Louvre?"
Miss Clavel smiled proudly as she was happy that her students were interested in the big museum. The teacher said "The Louvre- come mes enfants, I will show you"
: in two straight lines they swift moved to take the Metro to the Louvre.
Miss Clavel said "Voila! The Louvre, one of the largest museums in world with some of the most beautiful work of art"
: they stared in the galleries with classical antiquates.
Nicole said "Who broke that statue Miss Clavel?"
Miss Clavel laughed "Oh Nicole, that statue is a thousands of years old, it could have been broken in a war, or an earthquake, or just by being moved"
: Down stairs not far below was the statue- the venus de milo.
Miss Clavel said "She is almost 2,000 years old"
Riley said "But still very beautiful"
Nicole said "But she doesn't have any arms"
Chloe said "Or clothes"
as the Girls giggle
Miss Clavel said "This is the Winged victory. it celebrates the winning of a war thousands of years ago.
The group walked up and down the halls that were filled with art.
: thought the girls were so tired they all feet like fainting... they revived when they saw. the world's most famous painting.
Madeline put her painting down against the wall and joined the others.
Miss Clavel said "These little girls is the Mona Lisa, painted in 1506 by Leonardo da Vinci"
Madeline said "Miss Clavel, why is she smiling?"
Nicole said "That is not a smile"
Chloe said "Yes it is"
Nicole said "No it is not"
Riley said "It is too Nicole"
Chloe said "May oui"
Nicole said "May non"
Riley said "May oui Nicole"
Miss Clavel said "Now children"
Madeline said "Whatever it is, she looks like she has an important secret"
They looked at the famous picture for almost 30 minutes.
: soon Miss Clavel said that she believed that time had come for them to leave.
Miss Clavel said "Come mes petites, it is almost closing time"
Nicole said "Oh no"
Chloe said "There is so much more to see"
Danielle said "Please let us stay, look at all these paintings!"
Miss Clavel said "Shh, we will come back I promise"
: they found their way out by following signs and left the Louvre in two straight lines but far behind was Riley and Madeline.
As soon as they were outside the building, Madeline gasped,
Madeline said "Oh no, my painting, it is gone!"
All the girls "Gone?" quelle horreur
: the sad sad truth had to be faced. Madeline old house has been misplaced.
Riley said "You sure Maddie?"
Madeline said "Oh Miss Clavel, we must go back and find my painting!"
Miss Clavel looked at her watch and said "Oh dear, the museum will close in a few minutes, we must hurry!"
: they ran up the stairs and up some more searching Hight and low on every floor. they zoomed past statues, busts and pictures and raced past Greek and Roman fixtures, they asked in Dutch... and Greek. and Spanish. but the missing work had seemed to vanish.
Loud speaker " Attention! Attention! the Louvre will be closing in five minutes!"
Miss Clavel said "I'm sorry Madeline, but I believe your painting is no where to be found"
: When time came for them to depart they left without Madeline's work of art the poor girl had a broken heart the Metro ride seemed very long the girls hummed a sad sad song they want home and broken their bread and brushed their teeth and went to bed but poor Madeline could not sleep all that she could do was weep her sorrow was so very deep.
Madeline sniffled "I guess I will have to paint another picture"
Meanwhile the next day back at the louvre,
A man said "Pardon Monsieur curator where should I hang this new painting?"
The Curator looked at the painting and said "This must be part of that travel exhibit from the Prado très bien very nice, ah! For now, hang it next to the Mona Lisa."
As the worker hung Madeline's picture,
A Woman said C'est Magnieque!
: the critics didn't recognize it so they set out to analyze it.
2nd Man said "Regardé, look at that what lines, what form, what emotion"
1st Man said "Formidable , but who is the artist?"
2nd Man "It just says M"
1st Man said "Could it be Matisse?,
2nd Man said Magritte? or Miro? or Monet? or Modigliani?
Curator said "I will look it up"
The Curator did but even he couldn't find the painter named M
: some people waited half a day to see Madeline unique display and some where even turned away when the dawn broke Miss Clavel perused the paper with the morning news.
Miss Clavel said "Regardé Madeline regardé, look at what is on the front page of Le Bavard"
"Le Tableau Mystrni Eux"
Madeline gasped "That's my painting!"
Chloe said "Look, it's hanging in the Louvre"
Nicole said "Right next to the Mona Lisa"
Madeline said "I must get it back"
Miss Clavel said "It says here, that the museum is searching high and low for the mysterious painting "M"
All the girls "M?" Laughing
Madeline started laughing so hard that she couldn't breathe. When she finally caught her breath, Madeline said "That is me, c'est moi!"
: Madeline arrived back at the Louvre with something that she had to prove.
All the girls "Ludwig!"
Ludwig said "I saw your painting in the paper"
Madeline said "Oh Ludwig, will you help me get it back?"
Ludwig said "Certainment"
Nicole said "Ohh Miss Clavel, can we stay and look at the mummies?"
Miss Clavel said "Très bien, we will meet Madeline, Riley, and Ludwig in 30 minutes"
Madeline said "Thanks for waiting with me Riley"
Riley said "No problem Maddie, but look at the long lines"
: then Riley and Madeline waited in a long long line and when she reached the her painting.
Madeline said "That is mine, as she took her painting off the wall, and I am going to take it home where it belongs. Riley can you lead me back to Miss Clavel please?"
Riley said "Sure Maddie lets- uh oh, it looks like we have trouble"
The twins looked up and saw that two guards were coming towards them.
Ludwig said "Wait girls"
Guard said " Arretze! Wait a minute younger lady's, I saw you take that painting"
Madeline said "But Monsieur Guard"
Guard said "Come with me"
: they ran down the hall till they reached the Curator but a sigh on the door sait please return much much later.
However the opened the door and said "Excuse moi Monsieur curator"
Curator said "If this is about the painting by M, the younger ladies will have to wait their turn like everyone else"
Guard said "But Monsieur curator, these little girls are art thieves! They have stolen the La Maison Vieille
Madeline said "But Monsieur, I am M, that is my painting!"
Curator said "That is impossible, it was painted by an important Accompushed master"
Ludwig said "Allow me to explain girls, you see Monsieur she is my student, and I think-"
Riley then started to argue to the curator, Sir please understand my sister did paint that picture, Madeline will show you."
Madeline said "But Riley, I didn't bring my paints, paper or a paint brush"
Riley said "Don't worry Maddie, you can paint anyways. Remember no one else is you. Ludwig can you go get Miss Clavel and the girls? And Monsieur curator, do you have a easel, paints and paper, and a paint brush?"
Curator said "Oui little girl"
Riley said good enough just meet us outside come Madeline
: outside the Louvre Madeline put brushed to paper a crowd gather around wondering was her caper.
Madeline said "Voila Monsieur curator, my painting- I hope it is not too rough"
Curator said "Hmm mm, aha of course ahm... There is no doubt, these two paintings were painted by the same artist"
2nd Man said "I all along that it was a young girl, so primitive
1st Man said "My own child could have done better"
2nd man or even a Monkey!
Madeline and Riley gasped and were shocked from what the critics were saying about Madeline's painting.
"Riley said now see here."
Ludwig said "Do not listen to what the critics say Madeline, you are the best judge of what you think is good and what is not"
Madeline said "Because no one else is me"
Riley said "Madeline maybe try to look up once in awhile because you put white, not brown"
Madeline said "Oops I forgot"
: when you look at art you have seen before each time you see a little more.
Miss Clavel said "We will come back again, I promise."
The 13 girls nodded and got into their two straight lines. And as they were about to leave,
The Curator said "I hope you will continue your interest in art little girl, you have talent you know"
Madeline said "Merci Monsieur Curator"
Curator said "And remember, you will be welcomed to the Louvre anytime to see your painting"
Madeline said "To see my painting?"
Curator said "Yes we would like to hang this in the main gallery, if that is alright with you"
Riley said "Madeline could I talk to you for a bit please?- This will be great Maddie, we will get free lunch, free entry, anytime we like!"
Madeline said "Oui you are right Riley, may oui! Au revoir!"
Curator said "Au revoir Madeline and Riley, and remember never listen to the critics"
Back at home,
All the girls chorused "We love our bread, we love our butter but most of all, we love each other!"
: then it was time to brushed their teeth and go to bed in the Middle of the Night Miss Clavel turned on the light and said...
Miss Clavel said "Something is not right"
: and afried of an disaster Miss Clavel ran fast and faster but when she saw the girls Endeavor Miss Clavel said...
Miss Clavel said "Well I never"
Chloe said "Look at mine Miss Clavel, it is an original"
Nicole said "No mine"
Miss Clavel said "Little girls these are beautiful pictures, but it is the middle of the night, you should all be asleep. Ah Riley, where did you paint this picture of Andre?"
Riley said "It would be perfect, so Madeline's Old House painting won't get lonely"
Miss Clavel said "Alright Riley, I will hang it in the dinner room"
: they hang their painter near the door as Miss Clavel hang Riley's painting near Madeline's painting in the dinner room and that all there is there isn't anymore.