I, Juan de Pareja, by Elizabeth Borton de Treviño
Started 03.23.20 • Finished 04.15.20
"But time is a great traitor who teaches us to accept loss."
"Juan de Pareja wanted to learn to paint, although it was forbidden in Spain. His master was a master artist. They were friends and traveled together. They went twice to Italy to study painting. They were friends to the King of Spain. Juan painted secretly whenever he could. He got his freedom after showing his master a painting he had made. He married, became his assistant. When Master died he returned to his birthplace and lived there with his family." - Timothy, age 11
He kept his own counsel because that was his way, and because, as he once told me, the world is too full of foolish words that had best never been spoken.
"This book is about a slave named Juan. He goes to Madrid, where he has a mean master. Then he goes to another city that he got a nice master. Back then, slaves were not allowed to paint, but Juan did secretly. He only showed his friend. He asked a girl named Loli to be his wife. She said no because she didn't want to have any kids in slavery. But after that Master and Mistress set them free, so Loli said yes, and they got married." - Neph, age 9
"I am more humble than they," he answered me, "for I do not wish to try to improve upon the works of God, I merely show, with respect, what he has made."