The sweet and touching tale of Fleur and Blanchefleur 1922

Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale made this illustration, titled "The sweet and touching tale of Fleur and Blanchefleur," and what I find so amazing about it is that it’s a story within a story. It looks like she’s telling us about romance, in this decorative, Medieval-inspired scene. The colour palette feels restrained, as if she didn't want to over-egg the pudding. The bright red in the lower image draws us down into the heart of the story, where a young chap is presenting a robe as a gift. Up above, the scene is cool, almost melancholic, with its more muted blues and yellows. And a yellow dog echoes the colours, unifying the composition as a whole. I wonder if Fortescue-Brickdale intended to explore love as both the ideal, up top, and the action of giving. That's love, right? It's an exchange, and I find it very moving.