The Picture of Dorian Gray

A clever writer once shared some special thoughts about art and beauty. He believed that people who make beautiful things, like painters and writers, have a very important job. They create lovely pictures and stories for everyone to enjoy. He thought that beautiful things do not need to teach us lessons or be useful like a hammer or a spoon. A painting can just be pretty, and that is enough. A story can just be exciting or dreamy, and that is wonderful too. He wanted people to look at art and feel happy or curious or amazed. The writer believed that making something beautiful takes great care and love. Artists work very hard to get everything just right. With these ideas about beauty and art, a new story is about to begin, full of interesting people and surprising things to discover.

The studio smelled sweet, like roses and lilacs in bloom. Lord Henry lay on a cozy couch, watching bird shadows dance across the curtains. Bees buzzed outside in the tall grass. In the middle of the room stood a beautiful painting of a young man. The artist Basil had made it, and he thought it was very special.

Lord Henry said it was wonderful work. But Basil did not want anyone else to see it. He felt he had put too much of his heart into the painting. The young man in the picture was named Dorian Gray. Basil told his friend how he met Dorian at a fancy party. From that very first moment, Basil knew Dorian was important. Dorian helped Basil paint better than ever before. He was like a wonderful friend who made everything feel exciting and new. Just then, someone knocked. The butler came in with surprising news. Dorian Gray had arrived and was waiting to see them.