Chapter 691: The Power of Tragedy

What surprised Cecilia Vaughn was a painting with a jarring style.

The upper part of the painting depicted a clear moonlit sea, while the lower part showed sharks tearing apart flesh.

This was the work of Sean Grant, a rising star at Stellerton University.

Cecilia Vaughn lingered in front of the painting for a long time, with a subtle shimmer in her gaze.

"Does Miss Vaughn also like this painting?"

This Old Master Wallace was hunched over, not at all dashing, but his eyes were exceptionally bright.

Being looked at by Old Master Wallace, Cecilia Vaughn felt slightly embarrassed and reluctantly shifted her gaze away.

"It’s not that I like it, it’s just that this painting was done by a friend... ahem, a classmate of mine."

Cecilia Vaughn initially wanted to say a friend, but thinking that Adrian Law was nearby, she opted for the more neutral term, classmate.

Coincidentally, this painting of sharks under the moonlight was created right around the time Chloe Alden was murdered on the ship.

At that time, Cecilia Vaughn merely marveled at Sean Grant’s dark style, not expecting that sometimes paintings could be prophetic.

Ah.

Although Chloe Alden wasn’t eaten by sharks, she must have been even more miserable and desperate when she fell into the water in her bridesmaid dress?!

...

Old Master Wallace was unaware of the twists and turns in Cecilia Vaughn’s thoughts. He stroked his beard and said with a beaming smile.

"You’re talking about Sean Grant, right? Although this young man is two or three years younger than Miss Vaughn, he is a young prodigy with unlimited potential."

"I have several more paintings by Sean Grant here, just waiting for his value to skyrocket in the future."

"Do you often do these kinds of things?"

Cecilia Vaughn raised an eyebrow in surprise and then looked around intently, indeed finding several more paintings that were evidently in Sean Grant’s style.

Something fluttered through Cecilia Vaughn’s mind, but she couldn’t quite grasp it.

She recalled seeing Sean Grant at the winery banquet last night, full of youthful spirit, though his demeanor was somewhat gloomy and detached, he was the best spokesperson for his work.

His outstanding talent and vampire-like looks were enough to amaze people.

And this young man, perhaps because he was an orphan, had a painting style that wasn’t very sunny.

Cecilia Vaughn even wondered if Sean Grant was the child of a pretty Chinese woman with a poor family background who went to Caelus to work and seek a wealthy foreign husband, but ultimately failed and had to leave the child at an orphanage.

Cecilia Vaughn couldn’t help but speculate so much because Sean Grant’s mixed-race features were excessively attractive, and not all Chinese and foreign men’s genes combine this well, proving the excellence of the child’s parents’ genes.

And Sean Grant’s demeanor seemed beyond what an ordinary orphan could cultivate, perhaps this was an innate inheritance from his parents?

......

"Is it really Sean Grant’s painting?"

Hearing this name, Adrian Law felt a twinge of dissatisfaction in his heart, and he paused to observe those paintings, already completed years ago, with a disdainful curl of his lip.

"Old Master Wallace, perhaps you should raise your standards. Don’t you think this kid’s painting style is too dark and gloomy, and if it were really put on the auction market, the chances of its value doubling in the future aren’t high?"

"Why wouldn’t it be high?"

Old Master Wallace didn’t know about Adrian Law’s rivalry with Sean Grant and assumed that Adrian lacked professional artistic appreciation.

"Look at these lines, the composition, and the sense of light and shadow, they are almost perfect. Who would have thought this was Sean Grant’s work at sixteen? He won first place at an industry art competition in Caelus, not just out of luck."

"Honestly, I even feel if Sean Grant gets the right opportunities, he might become the next Vincent van Gogh."

"Puh..."

While Cecilia Vaughn admired Sean Grant, comparing him to a master known for a century still felt like excessive praise.

"Old Master Wallace, one Vincent van Gogh is enough. If Sean Grant’s paintings are to become legendary works in the future, he must become a unique Sean Grant."

The existing and already created works, no matter how well or closely they’re imitated, are only reproductions.

The rare treasures people seek must be original and irreplaceable.

...

Cecilia Vaughn actually had high hopes for Sean Grant’s development, but as for how far he could go, she hadn’t envisioned much further.

Legendary artists, especially painters, whether it be Van Gogh or Picasso, often have too turbulent a life.

In Cecilia Vaughn’s view, life doesn’t need to have so many ups and downs. Being able to live a peaceful life, even if not celebrated by posterity, reaching Sean Grant’s current level is already beyond the reach of others, and there’s no need to sacrifice your life for art.

...

"Miss Vaughn also makes sense. Only when Sean Grant becomes unique can the paintings I hold gain value, right?"

"But as Young Master Law mentioned earlier, the painting style does not actually constitute the main factor affecting a work’s value. The market now quite welcomes this dark genre of art. After all, didn’t someone say that beauty makes people sad, tearing good things apart for others to see is also a form of shock. Do you agree, Miss Vaughn?"

"..."

Cecilia Vaughn stroked her nose, her smile somewhat perfunctory.

"Uh... there is some truth in that. After all, tragic beauty is quite powerful. But I’m a mundane person, even when reading novels I prefer happy, comedic endings and ideally ones that don’t require much thought or effort."

"Miss Vaughn, you’re so humorous..."

Old Master Wallace evidently thought Cecilia Vaughn was joking, as such simplistic aesthetics are difficult to achieve significant accomplishments in art.

Old Master Wallace had seen a bit of Cecilia Vaughn’s work. Though it didn’t have the immediate impact of Sean Grant’s, it possessed a beauty worthy of praise and was not a superficial style, so he didn’t believe Cecilia Vaughn was truly so vulgar.

...

Somehow, after going around in circles, Cecilia Vaughn found that in Old Master Wallace’s home, they hadn’t found any clues related to the murder case of Chloe Alden, but instead, they had been discussing the value of Sean Grant’s artworks.

Cecilia Vaughn was unwilling to leave without results, but seeing Old Master Wallace’s demeanor, he didn’t seem involved in the case, so she could only bid farewell to Adrian Law politely.

"Old Master Wallace, we’ll forgo disturbing you further for today, thank you for your hospitality."

"No problem, you’re welcome to visit anytime."

"By the way, Miss Vaughn, if you like these works, I can recommend a place to you. Go to this art gallery, maybe it can provide some artistic inspiration for you."