Page 1040 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

Altogether Mihailov, with his reserved and
disagreeable, as it were, hostile attitude, was quite disliked
by them as they got to know him better; and they were
glad when the sittings were over, and they were left with a

magnificent portrait in their possession, and he gave up
coming. Golenishtchev was the first to give expression to
an idea that had occurred to all of them, which was that
Mihailov was simply jealous of Vronsky.
‘Not envious, let us say, since he has talent; but it
annoys him that a wealthy man of the highest society, and
a count, too (you know they all detest a title), can,
without any particular trouble, do as well, if not better,
than he who has devoted all his life to it. And more than
all, it’s a question of culture, which he is without.’
Vronsky defended Mihailov, but at the bottom of his
heart he believed it, because in his view a man of a
different, lower world would be sure to be envious.
Anna’s portrait—the same subject painted from nature
both by him and by Mihailov—ought to have shown
Vronsky the difference between him and Mihailov; but he
did not see it. Only after Mihailov’s portrait was painted
he left off painting his portrait of Anna, deciding that it
was now not needed. His picture of medieval life he went
on with. And he himself, and Golenishtchev, and still

1039 of 1759