"The Enchanted Garden of Messer Ansaldo"
Marie Spartalli Stillman
This painting was inspired by a story from The Decameron about a dissatisfied wife who wishes for a garden that's as beautiful in January as it is in May. The Decameron is a collection of tales told by a group of nobles who fled the city in 1349 during the plague. In an empty villa in the countryside, with time on their hands, they decide that, every evening, each of them will tell a story.
Messer Ansaldo chases after the married woman Dianora, and in moment of recklessness she says she will yield to him if he achieves the impossible and produces a garden in winter with the flowers and fruits of spring.
As the painting shows, with the help of a magician Ansaldo creates a May garden despite the snow that is falling outside the wall in the 'real world'. Dianora is now faced with a difficult situation, but decides to confess all to her husband, Gilberto.
Gilberto suggests she must comply with Ansaldo's desires. However, moved by Dianora's honesty to her husband, Ansaldo releases her from their "contract."
And the morale of the story is, be careful what you wish for.
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