---

---

---

---

---

---

In the late 19th Century, an art movement emerged as an offshoot of the realism-based Pre-Raphaelite Club. Playfully dubbed the ‘Post-Rachelite School of Art, it was named “nascosto in modo sicuro, perfettamente funzionante” which translates as “safely hidden but fully functioning.”

The models were young men who were the wives of rich women throughout Europe who kept them safely’ under wraps,’ so to speak as feminized paramours. They held the status of espousa; gleefully embracing that status. All attire is portrayed as from the Renaissance Era. Here are but a few paintings of these ‘ladies’ as well as their stories:

---

---

Andreas is explaining to his son that once he becomes of age, he will be assured that music will indeed be an integral part of any marriage that will also include pretty dresses and gowns. It should be noted, as the name of the movement suggests, that all of these young men could and would bless their marriage with children.

---

---

Carlos posed for the painting not knowing that his bride-to-be had every intention to let Carlos wear the wedding gown.

---

---

Remembering life as an only child, Anthony wistfully hopes that his Mistress bears twins so that they can raise two girls, no matter how either of them are born.

---

---

Lindsey muses about how things will be when he grows up. He can barely wait to be the bride of a beautiful woman.

---

---

Dieter. Ludwig, and Hans worry needlessly. Their mistresses love to dance but they only have eyes and everything else for their wives.

---

---

Marcel breathes out a relieved sigh as he suddenly realizes what perfettamente funzionante actually means.

---

---

Viktor's fears are allayed as he reads what his responsibilities as a new bride entail. That the marriage bed will be gentile per entrambi "Gentle for Both."

---

---

Henrik vows to be as loving a wife to his mistress as his father was to his mother.

---

---

Yuri memorizes the two hymns he will sing at their wedding. His mistress teased that the hymns would be 'hers.'

---

---

Giancarlo is left with a symbol of his peace. The dove represents the peace that he feels knowing that he will indeed be the wife he was born to be.

---

---

One of the Mistress/Wives, Contessa Madeleine de L'amore expressed how she saw her relationship with her espousa, Roberto.

---

---

---

---

Per Te
Composers Marinangeli, Walter Afanasieff, and Josh Groban
performed by Allesia Fiorenza

Other than A Wreath of Roses depicted above, all paintings include fictitious titles All artwork by Marie Spartali Stillman (1844-1927).