Saturday, 7 September 1878

I saw Robert-Fleury, but had only a single drawing to show him — on which I had worked one day (this week there was illness and a change of model), Thursday, and one hour this morning.
"No matter," he said to me, "it is very good."
Triphon left this evening. Grand-papa bequeathed him two thousand roubles; in addition he was given clothing and seven hundred francs. The wretch received a hundred francs a month and was perpetually in debt. He was very eager to stay — crossed himself, kissed our hands, spoke of his faithfulness, and so on. We fortunately overcame all sentimentality.

Notes

Tony Robert-Fleury (1837–1911) was an academic painter who taught at the Académie Julian. His assessment of student work each Saturday was the principal measure of progress.