Serenade in Soraya (colour litho)

Serenade to Soraya. Two young people from Ventimiglia, a painter and a poet, knowing that the Constitution on which the former Empress Soraya was traveling, passed off their city, took a boat and headed for that ship. The painter brought his own painting depicting the sad princess; the poet had dedicated an ode to her. They hoped to be noticed by the crew and to be allowed on board, one would give Soraya the portrait and the other recite the verses. The stormy sea overturned the boat; the two artists, excellent swimmers, were able to get back on the fragile boat but the Constitution was in the meantime far away and the picture ended up in the water. Illustration for Courier Sunday, 27 April 1958.