Chapter 13

           MihailovsoldVronskyhispicture,andagreedtopaintaportraitofAnna.Onthedayfixedhecameandbeganthework.

           Fromthefifthsittingtheportraitimpressedeveryone,especiallyVronsky,notonlybyitsresemblance,butbyitscharacteristicbeauty.ItwasstrangehowMihailovcouldhavediscoveredjusthercharacteristicbeauty.“OneneedstoknowandloveherasIhavelovedhertodiscovertheverysweetestexpressionofhersoul,”Vronskythought,thoughitwasonlyfromthisportraitthathehadhimselflearnedthissweetestexpressionofhersoul.Buttheexpressionwassotruethathe,andotherstoo,fanciedtheyhadlongknownit.

           “Ihavebeenstrugglingonforeversolongwithoutdoinganything,”hesaidofhisownportraitofher,“andhejustlookedandpaintedit.That’swheretechniquecomesin.”

           “Thatwillcome,”wastheconsolingreassurancegivenhimbyGolenishtchev,inwhoseviewVronskyhadbothtalent,andwhatwasmostimportant,culture,givinghimawideroutlookonart.Golenishtchev’sfaithinVronsky’stalentwasproppedupbyhisownneedofVronsky’ssympathyandapprovalforhisownarticlesandideas,andhefeltthatthepraiseandsupportmustbemutual.

           Inanotherman’shouse,andespeciallyinVronsky’spalazzo,Mihailovwasquiteadifferentmanfromwhathewasinhisstudio.Hebehavedwithhostilecourtesy,asthoughhewereafraidofcomingclosertopeoplehedidnotrespect.HecalledVronsky“yourexcellency,”andnotwithstandingAnna’sandVronsky’sinvitations,hewouldneverstaytodinner,norcomeexceptforthesittings.