A few pictures of the saints, which the Spaniards had spared, hung on the walls; the easel, paints and brushes had been left untouched.
A thought, which he instantly carried into execution, entered his mind.
He would paint a new standard! How his heart beat, when he again stood before the easel! He regarded the heretics as heathens.

The Spaniards were shortly going to fight against them and for the faith.

So he painted the Saviour on one side of the standard, the Virgin on the other.

The artist's widow sat to him for the Madonna, a young soldier for the Christ.
No scruples, no consideration for the criticisms of teachers now checked his creating hand; the power was his, and whatever he did must be right.
He placed upon the Saviour's bowed figure, Costa's head, as he had painted it in Titian's studio, and the Madonna, in defiance of the stern judges in Madrid, received the sibyl's face, to please himself and do honor to his mother.

He made her younger, transformed her white hair to gleaming golden tresses.