The Tale of The King’s Painting – A Story on Cleverness

“The Tale of the King’s Painting” is a heartwarming story about a wise king with only one eye and one leg. He wants a royal painting of himself, but all the artists are afraid to paint him.

In this beautiful retelling, a clever young painter finds a smart and respectful way to show the king’s true strength and beauty.

This story teaches us to be kind and creative and always to see the good in others.

The Tale of The King’s Painting – Let’s Read

A long time ago, a beautiful and peaceful kingdom was in a faraway land. The people were happy, the gardens were full of flowers, and the streets were always buzzing with life.

The king who ruled this land was known for his wisdom and kind heart. But there was something different about him—he had only one eye and one leg.

Still, he never let that stop him from doing great things for his people.

One sunny morning, as the king walked through the palace hallway, he looked at the big paintings of all the kings before him.

Each one was grand and proud, painted with rich colors and golden frames.

He smiled and thought to himself,
“I have done many good things for my kingdom. I want my portrait here too, so future generations remember me.“

But then, the smile faded a little.
“How will an artist paint me? Will they show me with just one eye and one leg? What if it looks odd or people laugh?“

Still, the king believed that someone out there could paint him in a way that showed his strength, not just his appearance.

And with that hope, he made a royal announcement…

A Royal Challenge

The king sent out a message across the kingdom and beyond. Messengers rode on horses to villages, towns, and cities. The message said:

“The King is looking for the finest artist to paint his royal portrait. The painting must be beautiful and full of pride. A great reward awaits the one who succeeds!”

Soon, the palace was filled with talented artists from all over. They came with their paintbrushes, colors, and big dreams.

Everyone wanted to win the reward and the honor of painting the great king.

But when the artists saw the king, many of them became nervous.

• “He has only one leg…”
• “And just one eye…”
• “How can we paint him beautifully without making him look strange?”
• “What if the king gets upset?”

One by one, the artists started saying no.

“Your Majesty, I’m afraid I cannot paint this portrait,” said one.
“I do not want to make a mistake,” said another.

The king understood their fear, but deep inside, he felt sad.

When it seemed like no one was brave enough to try, a young artist stepped forward with a calm smile.

“Your Majesty,” he said politely, “I would be honored to paint your portrait. And I promise, it will be beautiful.”

The king looked at him with curiosity. He liked the artist’s confidence and gave him permission to begin.

The Clever Painter at Work

The young artist got to work right away. He was given a quiet room in the palace, where he set up his canvas, paints, and brushes.

Days passed. He painted carefully, thinking deeply about every color, every line. He didn’t just want to draw the king—he tried to tell a story through the painting.

People in the palace were curious.

“What is he painting?”
“Will he show the king’s missing leg?”
“Will the king be angry?”

But the artist kept smiling and painting, never saying a word. He worked with patience and care, day and night.

Finally, after a few days, he said, “I’m ready to show the painting.”

The king, the royal family, and all the ministers gathered in the hall. Everyone held their breath as the cloth covering the painting was gently pulled away.

And then… everyone gasped.

The Big Surprise

Everyone stared at the painting with wide eyes when the cloth was pulled off.

In the picture, the king is sitting proudly on a beautiful horse. He is wearing his royal clothes and holding a bow and arrow.

One of his eyes was gently closed, as if he were carefully aiming at a target. And one of his legs was not seen at all—it was naturally hidden behind the horse.

The painting looked perfect! It showed the king as strong, smart, and full of grace.

The king looked at it for a moment… and then a big smile spread across his face. His eyes sparkled with happiness.

“This is wonderful!” he said. “You didn’t hide my truth, but you showed me in a way that makes me feel proud.”

Everyone clapped. The ministers nodded in agreement.

The young painter had done something very special—he used his clever mind and kind heart to show the king’s strengths beautifully.

The king was so pleased that he gave the young artist a chest full of gold and made him the Royal Painter of the Kingdom.

A Lesson to Remember

From that day on, the king’s portrait hung proudly in the palace hall beside the portraits of his ancestors.

People who saw it didn’t focus on what the king didn’t have—they saw a strong, wise, and brave ruler.

The king often looked at the painting and smiled.

He knew that the young artist had done something special—not just with paint but also with understanding and clever thinking.

The story of the clever painter spread far and wide. Children, artists, and even other kings heard it and learned something important.

Moral of the Story

Sometimes, people may look different or have weaknesses, but that doesn’t mean they are not special or strong.
With kindness, respect, and a little cleverness, we can bring out the best in others and make them feel proud of who they are.

So, what do you see in the people around you? Can you find their strengths, just like the painter did?

What Kids Learn from This Story

• Think Positively: The young artist didn’t focus on what was missing. He found a smart and kind way to show the king’s strengths. Lesson: Always try to see the good in people and situations.
• Be Creative: Instead of giving up like the others, the young painter used his imagination to solve the problem. Lesson: Creative thinking can help you solve even tricky problems!
• Be Respectful: The painter didn’t criticize the king’s looks. He showed respect while being honest. Lesson: Treat everyone with kindness, no matter how they look or what they can do.
• Believe in Yourself: The artist was young but believed he could do something great—and he did! Lesson: Age doesn’t matter. If you try your best, you can do amazing things too.
• Don’t Judge by Appearances: Many artists saw only the king’s missing leg and eye, but the clever painter saw the great man behind it all. Lesson: Never judge someone just by how they look. Everyone has something special inside them.

Follow-Up Questions For This Story