Summary

In Chapter 37, Jacob is a young man who has ambitions for his life. He plans to specialize in portraits. He does not like or admire Jan. He does not like Jan's new obsession with tulip dealings. Jacob realizes that Jan is also having an illicit affair with Sophia. To top his disappointment, Jan has not even given Jacob much instruction. He has instead just turned much of his work over to another person.

It is in the beginning of November that Jacob gets his real shock. Jan is offered a commission to paint the Regents of the Leper Hospital, but he turns it down. When he explains to Jacob why he has turned down the work, he also tells Jacob that he will be leaving in November. Jacob is angry because it means he will not have served as an apprentice under Jan...