Chapter 12, In Which My Portrait Is Painted Summary

Velbzquez paints Juan in his everyday clothes, adding only a large lace collar that belongs to Don Diego himself. The portrait is amazingly accurate. Juan is concerned because Don Diego still has received no commissions from the Italian nobles. One morning he takes the portrait to the Duke of Ponti. The duke reluctantly admits him, and Juan shows him the portrait. Juan repeats this stratagem several times. Everyone admires the painting's realism. Soon, Italian nobles are clamoring to have their portrait painted by the Spaniard.

When Don Diego paints the Pope, Juan becomes concerned. The portrait shows the Pontiff as a sharp, ambitious, unmerciful, difficult man, just as he is in real life. Juan worries whether the Pope will be pleased with such a portrait. The master assures Juan that everyone...