Summary

In Chapter 23, Jan feels guilty because he has not given Jacob, his new apprentice, much detailed teaching. In order to make up, Jan asks Jacob to finish the painting of Cornelis and Sophia. He cannot bring himself to paint the old man. He is also aware that the Sophia in the portrait is a woman who no longer exists. Jan turns his attention to a new painting, "The Love Letter." He is painting Sophia as she stood in her room, reading the letter that he sent her. She described the room in which she was standing as she read the letter as well as the emotions that she felt so that he can paint her. As he paints, Jan considers the deceptive nature of art. Even in real life portraits, the reality of the person or people is filtered through the eye of...