Hannah. (Slowly opens her eyes, sits up and looks at the easel) Michael!

(Blackout)

———————————————

Act Two. Scene Four.

National Gallery. London. Present Day.

(During blackout sounds to establish modern day London. Traffic noise, car horns, subway trains, trucks, road drills, police car sirens….)

(Traffic sounds stop and background sounds of people talking and shuffling about a room continue)

(During blackout.) Young Man. (offstage) Please move along the room so that everyone can be seated.

(Lights up. There is a backdrop that completely closes off most of the stage leaving only a small downstage, front area. Front and C. stage. Is an easel with a portrait on it, facing the audience. It is a self – portrait of Michael Colonessi. The young man stands to the side of the easel facing the audience. He is unchanged, except for his attire. He is now dressed in modern day business clothing; Suit, shirt and tie, and hair styled accordingly. His attire is still dark and sombre, and very elegant.)

Young Man. (addresses audience as if they are viewing the portrait at the gallery.) Ladies and gentleman! (Background sounds stop) Welcome to the National Gallery’s newly opened viewing room. I trust you are all comfortably seated? (Pause) It gives me great pleasure to present Michael Colonessi’s masterpiece. His self-portrait!

It has now been over a year since this portrait was discovered in the vaults of the National gallery. And during that time, the world’s most renowned art experts have scrutinised every aspect of the painting. It has undergone extensive carbon dating, as well as paint, canvas and even handwriting tests. The results conclude that it is authentic and without doubt the work of the artist Michael Colonessi. No flash photography, please…

Before this portrait came to light, Colonessi’s ‘unsigned’ self-portrait, as it is known, was considered to be his last and greatest work of art. And along with Da Vinci’s ‘Mona Lisa’ has been the standard by which we perceive greatness. But even these two monumental achievements pale in comparison. This new find has turned the art establishment on its ear!

His other works are magnificent in their own right, but this self-portrait is one of a kind, and Colonessi was assuredly touched by genius when he painted it.

See how delicately the artist captured the eyes? (He gestures to the portrait) One feels that the portrait is almost alive and his eyes make contact, such is the brilliance of this achievement.

But how was this masterpiece overlooked for over one hundred and fifty years? And why has there never even been a mention of its existence?

It is another piece of the puzzle that has surrounded Michael Colonessi for almost two centuries. Sir, please tell your child not to touch that…Thank you.

There are no historic records of his last days, and we can only rely on an account given by his closest friend, an art dealer.

According to his story, he had commissioned Colonessi to paint a self-portrait.

When he arrived one morning at the artist’s studio, he found the ‘un-signed’ self-portrait waiting for him, but there was no sign of Michael Colonessi, and he was never seen nor heard from again. What happened to him? He seems to have vanished from the face of the earth. Was he murdered? Did he commit suicide? And why was his body never found? Perhaps he met a watery grave in the River Thames? (Smiles)

It is a mystery, to be sure, and one that will probably never be solved.  Michael Colonessi knows what took place, but he has long since gone to his maker.

What remains is this magnificent work of art for all to appreciate…

That concludes our tour for today. Thank you for your time. Please make your way to the exits. The Gallery will be closing in fifteen minutes. (Young man smiles.) (Sounds of people talking and shuffling about a room continue for a time and then fade to silence.)

(Young man exits stage R.)

(Lights fade to blackout, except a single shaft of light directed onto the portrait at stage C.)

Michael. (Voice over.) He knows the truth, believe me, but he lies to you! He always lies and deceives! Can you not hear me? Listen to me. Look at me, I live! See? I move my eyes. How can you not see? You are but a few paces in front of me. I am the portrait! Please look! My eyes. I can move my eyes. I beg you. Someone. Let me out! Why can no one ever hear me?…No! Do not go. Do not leave me alone with him! God, please forgive my sins. Save me from this Hell!”

(Blackout)

The End

(For performance rights contact the author @ londonenglandkent@yahoo.com)