Charles Perrault is a French writer of the XVIIth Century. Some of his fairytales were rewrited by the Grimm brothers 2 Centuries later : "The Little Red Riding Hood", "Cinderella" or "Sleeping Beauty". The other ones are less known, except by French children who love to hear about "Le Petit Poucet" (Little Thumb), "Le Chat Botté" (The cat with boots) or "Peau d'Ane" (Donkey Skin), etc. This is my first illustration of a series I'll consecrated to these beautiful fairytales. Done with watercolours.

DONKEY SKIN, the story.

Once apon a time there was a very lucky king. He was very rich because of a donkey in its stables which, every day, defecate gold coins. And he has a very beautiful and perfect wife who gave him a beautiful daughter. So, he was very happy.

Alas, his wife fell ill, and nobody could cure her. Before dying, she obtained of her husband the king the promise he will never get married again, except with a woman more beautiful and perfect than she was.

Some years after she passed, the king thought to have a new wife. Of course, he could not find any women more beautiful and perfect as his deceased wife. Except his daughter who grew more and more beautiful, more and more perfect. So, he decided to marry his daughter.

Hearing about her father’s decision, the princess went to her godmother, who was a fay, and asked her about the way to prevent this wedding. The fay recommended to require to the king something he could not give. A weather coloured dress.

But the king succeeded to offer this wonderful dress to her daughter.

Then, she asked for a moon coloured dress, and then for a sun coloured dress. And always the king succeeded to offer these wonderful dresses.

She asked her godmother the fay what she could ask to the king he would not able to offer. The fay recommended to require to the king the skin of his marvelous donkey, sure that he would never sacrify the source of his resources. But he did.

Desperated, the princess escaped far away his father’s castle, disguised as a dirty slut wearing rags and the ugly skin of the donkey. Her godmother gave her a magic wand which was able to reveal her luggages with her wonderful dresses.

She arrived in a castle where she found a place to take care of the pigs. She was called « Donkey Skin » because of his dirtiness and of the ugly donkey skin she was wearing. At night, in her small door, she weared one of her wonderful dresses. Of course, the son of the king of this castle saw her and fell in love. He fell ill and asked to his mother a cake done by Donkey Skin. Donkey Skin did the cake and put one of her rings in it. When the prince saw the ring, he said he will marry the girl who could wear this very small ring. And of course, only Donkey Skin could, and she appeared with her sun coloured dress and marry the prince.

End of the story.