Mr and Mrs Whitepearl

It’s a rare sunny day in London. Allan and Molly Whitepearl indulge themselves with a cultural weekend at the National Gallery. After an hour strolling back and forth, Mrs. Whitepearl’s eyes rest on Thomas Gainsborough painting entitled “Mr and Mrs Andrews” (the above image)…how appropriate.
The couple walks up to it, and begins to analyse the work of art.

Allan leans over to Molly and whispers:
- How about a game, darling?
- Of what sort? – She asks.
- Simple, my dear: we select a person, at random, to listen to our personal analysis of the painting and in the end he/she will have to decide which one is best.

Molly agrees to this and takes the initiative of picking one person. A few minutes later she chooses an old lady, who was walking in their direction. Mrs Whitepearl explains the game to Mrs Dempsey who immediately accepts to be the arbitrator of such an exciting project.

A coin was tossed and Allan got to be the first:
- The husband arrives from his hunting journey along with his best friend and confider (the dog). The way he holds his firearm depicts him as virile and relaxed. The dog looks at his master hoping to be rewarded, yet the master leans over his wife expecting to be rewarded himself…look at those strong, muscled legs…what a marvellous piece of work! Gainsborough wanted to emphasize how much exercise he performed – at this last comment Molly smiles at Mrs Dempsey, Allan continues – the tranquil wife sits under the tree, perhaps confiding with her diary her longing for her husband. Look, Molly; that bleu-ciel dress suggests the innocence and purity of her thoughts! No wonder the man is so relaxed…he has got it all: an estate, a quiet wife (in a sense of inner -peace…obviously…) and a loyal companion…! Your turn, my dear…

Molly bends slightly her knee, as to bow to her husband and arbitrator, while clearing her throat:
- The husband is about to leave to his hunting journey, but before he does he wants to show-off his gun as a clear message of what expects her on his return. My argument is supported by his stance, his smirk and her bored countenance. In her diary she expresses her immense dismay at her husband’s ill “barrel organ” skills. [Ironically] Look, Allan…the cloudy sky reflects her inner-turmoil…her dissatisfaction…the pastel-blue dress suggests that she has decided to accept her fate – Allan throws a loud laugh, yet Molly continues – no, no, dear…I haven’t finished yet! His legs…indeed, a fine “piece of work”, may indicate how much exercise he performs, however not the sort of performance she expected of him – Molly winks at a frowning Mrs Dempsey. The pet…what does the pet tells us? Well, if one is in England and hunts, one needs a dog! What say you, Mrs Dempsey?

Mrs Dempsey takes a deep breath and replies:
- Oh dear…Oh dear me…I believe that both of you are seeing too much! All I see is a man, who hunts; his wife, in their property with their lovely pet…the cloudy sky, though, does suggest that it will rain soon, and if they don’t rush home they might get soaked to the skin…God knows that they might even catch a flu…and oh dear Lord, a flu in those days; oh…a flu…in those…days…