Arte (アルテ)

Florence at the beginning of the 16th century--

At that time, countries from Italy to western Europe

were welcoming the golden age of the revival of Greek and Roman culture.

It was called the Renaissance, and in the painting world,

it produced great painters like da Vinci and Michelangelo.

I overslept!

Ow...

Good morning, Master!

Um, I'll do my best starting today!

Um... Leo? Is there something you'd like me to help with?

You're too loud.

You're keeping me from my work.

"Buy materials to fix your shed with this money."

If you want to become an artisan, then you should do that yourself.

Master... He really is scary...

No, don't go down that road! Keep moving forward, Arte!

"A New Life"

"A New Life" Fresh fish! Caught in the Arno River this morning!

"A New Life" How about some tripe? It's delicious!

How about some tripe? It's delicious!

Do you need fire?

If the fire at your house has gone out, come talk to me!

I, Arte, have loved to draw since I was young, and going against my mother's wishes,

I was finally accepted as an apprentice at a small workshop, but...

It's my first time at the marketplace!

Hey, cutie! How about a skewer?

I'll sell these necklaces and bracelets for cheap!

Miss, would you like a flower?

M-Maybe I can look around first...

Wait, I don't have time for this!

Huh? Do we have any extra wood?

Well, I can sell you some, but don't cause trouble for us.

I-I won't!

A girl like you doing repairs?

Why don't you just seduce someone into doing it for you?

Can you carry all that wood with those skinny arms of yours?

It's heavy...

His load looks so heavy, too...

I see...

I can't just push with my arms.

I need to put my back into it, too.

What's with that girl?

What's she doing, even though she's a girl?

Oh, dear.

It's because she's pushing herself even though she's a girl.

Don't try so hard, Missy.

It... doesn't hurt...!

I can't cry...

Then people'll say it's because I'm a girl.

A boy wouldn't cry in a place like this!

Um, are you all right?

Whoa, you're hurt all over!

There's a well over there, so let's wash your wounds out there!

All right, now your wounds are clean.

Hm? What's the matter?

--Um... My hand... --Your hand?

It's the first time a boy's held my hand like this...

Sorry! I-I-I-I see! That was rude of me! I'm really very sorry!

It's all right. Please, don't apologize.

You treated me so kindly. It made me happy.

Because everyone I met was so cold to me...

I-It was nothing... I was just doing what was natural...

Oh, yeah. I haven't introduced myself yet, have I?

Introduced yourself?

Yeah! I'm Angelo. Angelo Parker!

I'm working as an apprentice at Master Danilo's painting workshop.

At Master Danilo's? That's a really big workshop, isn't it?

You know a lot!

I also just became an apprentice at a workshop--at Leo's place.

Huh?!

Oh, I'm Arte.

You're the one the rumors are about?

Rumors?

All the painters are talking about it! That that Leo took on an apprentice.

And a girl to boot.

A girl... People are talking that much...?

Are you being treated badly in any way?

I heard that he gave you an impossible task as the condition for becoming an apprentice.

Oh, he told me to prepare 20 wood panels in one night...

That's terrible...

Could it be that carrying that is your work, too?

Yeah... I guess you could call it work...

What? That's too much! A girl can't be expected to carry that!

All right! I'll help you carry it!

I'm fine.

I can do it by myself.

You don't have to hold back.

I'm pretty strong, despite how I look.

Huh? Y-Y-Your hand...!

Angelo, please don't.

Huh?

Um... Huh? Did I do something wrong?

I was finally made an apprentice.

I can't depend on others just because I'm a girl.

These are really getting in the way...

Hey, look.

Oh my, how unseemly for a girl!

"There's no way a girl could carry this,"

or, "There's no way a girl could become a painter,"

or, "If you want to live a decent life,

then your only choice is to be liked by gentlemen."

What the heck?!

I'm going to decide how I'll live myself.

The world has no right to determine my limits!

Oof!

All right! I finished it!

It took a week, though...

Oh, are you finally done?

Yes! I finally finished!

What do you think? What do you think of my workmanship?

Hmm.

What do you mean, "Hmm"?

You can do it if you try, huh?

"For a girl"... or, "Even though you're a girl"...

He would never say anything like that.

Ever since I first met him,

he always looked at me as my own person, not just as a girl.

I'm just trying to keep my tears in, so please don't worry about it.

"Keeping his laughter in"

During this time, in order to become a painter, one had to go through a number of steps.

First, they spent three years as trainees, doing prep work, cleaning, and running errands.

Then, they would spend another three years as journeymen

and be in charge of the backgrounds or props of the pieces the master took on.

And then, finally, they would be registered as a master in their guild

and work as full-fledged painters.

Whoops, sorry!

Not like that! How many times do I have to tell you?

Do it properly!

Yes, Master!

The master was in an especially bad mood today, huh?

I mean, we're really busy already,

but it looks like he took on work for a new building and a court event, too.

I'll help you.

Here.

I'm glad you weren't hurt. Be careful!

U-Um, here! Take this as my thanks!

Huh? Huh?

There you go again, making a pass at a girl.

Huh? I was just helping her a little...

Yeah, I was just trying to help...

Why did that girl...?

How can you be so nice to girls?

How?

I'm home!

Welcome back!

Oh, you're eating something!

Lucky!

Angelo, you're back just in time!

Big Brother Angelo, the leg of the bed is broken.