The Missing Bird
There was a newspaper held in mid air and on it, a picture of a painting. It was a painting that was on the front page of every newspaper that day, and had been for days before.
Because this painting had changed.
'An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump', it had written under the photograph of the painting. But there was no bird in the painting, and where previously there had been, there was now emptiness. Children in the portrait that had once stood frightened and hiding were now leaning elbows down on the table, smiles on their faces.
Lower on the page was a smaller picture, this one of the same painting how it had looked a few days previously, the bird still firmly in place within the bell jar.
'It is not yet known who is the culprit of the elaborate prank, nor how they managed to enter the gallery and swap the portraits. An investigation is currently underway. The painting is available to view at the National Gallery.'
"The National Gallery," the Doctor spoke, to nobody in particular as he lowered the newspaper, revealing the gallery itself in front of him. He was stood in Trafalgar Square, where around him stood various people dressed as Santa, singing carols in the rain to people who weren't listening.
It made him smile.
With a skip ahead, the Doctor passed the newspaper to someone who didn't want it and headed up the steps from the square towards the gallery. With a tug of the sides of his jacket, he stepped up towards the entrance, and climbed the stairs that would lead him inside.
He needed to see this painting for himself.
Because this painting had changed.
'An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump', it had written under the photograph of the painting. But there was no bird in the painting, and where previously there had been, there was now emptiness. Children in the portrait that had once stood frightened and hiding were now leaning elbows down on the table, smiles on their faces.
Lower on the page was a smaller picture, this one of the same painting how it had looked a few days previously, the bird still firmly in place within the bell jar.
'It is not yet known who is the culprit of the elaborate prank, nor how they managed to enter the gallery and swap the portraits. An investigation is currently underway. The painting is available to view at the National Gallery.'
"The National Gallery," the Doctor spoke, to nobody in particular as he lowered the newspaper, revealing the gallery itself in front of him. He was stood in Trafalgar Square, where around him stood various people dressed as Santa, singing carols in the rain to people who weren't listening.
It made him smile.
With a skip ahead, the Doctor passed the newspaper to someone who didn't want it and headed up the steps from the square towards the gallery. With a tug of the sides of his jacket, he stepped up towards the entrance, and climbed the stairs that would lead him inside.
He needed to see this painting for himself.