"His father was killed fighting in the revolution," the gallery owner told a small group of art lovers.

"His mother was French," added Nikki, which was about all she had said all night.

"The man in the painting with the gun must be his father," whispered a blue-hair, be-pearled and dewrinkled and tan.

"And I've heard he worshiped Ruiz's mother," replied a henna rinsed, green eyeshadowed patron. "That must be her there, the sun."

Ruiz answered her silently; That's an orange.