"The tempter or the tempted, who sins most?" (William Shakespeare) by Brian Keen

To be tempted is to be human - and whether to tempt is a sin or not is something they might discuss in seminaries and theological colleges, but happily such a question is of no interest to those of us who have grown out of introspective religion. Your painting doesn't tempt me - but that's a matter of orientation, not religion, so I'm leaving sin out of it, and not engaging in any criticism of your engaging performer: even if she is standing among the flames of Hell. So - having disposed of the philosophical.... you've done a great job on the fabrics, the leather of the boots, the fur etc, the stance is believable, the face and hair well-painted - and it's those aspects which interest me. I'll leave Mr Shakespeare's question to those better acquainted with the context - I don't recognize the quote, but it will be much less simple that first impressions suggest; I have a friend who knows the works inside out - I'll ask him!

THAN first impressions suggest; irritating that I keep making that mistake!

The title is simply word play (the mistress in the painting calls herself 'Ezada Sinn').