I was once hired to write a libretto for a musical based on the life of Christopher Columbus. Our vision of his mistress, Beatrix, was as a poor flowergirl he was unable to commit to for political reasons, despite the fact that they had children together. I pictured Beatrix as frail and almost wraithlike, as delicate as the flowers she sold.
The musical was never completed, but I kept this illustration of Beatrix in my portfolio.
