Diary of Marie Bashkirtseff

I saw Robert-Fleury,1 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.

J'ai donc vu Robert-Fleury mais je n'avais à lui montrer qu'un dessin seulement sur lequel j'avais travaillé un jour (cette semaine il y a eu maladie et changement de modèle) jeudi et une heure ce matin.

"No matter," he said to me, "it is very good."

— C'est égal, m'a-t-il, c'est très bien.

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.

Triphon est parti ce soir. Et papa lui lègue deux mille roubles, en outre on lui a donné des habits et sept cents francs. Ce misérable recevait cent francs par mois et était toujours endetté. Il avait très envie de rester, faisait le signe de la croix, nous baisait les mains, parlait de sa fidélité etc. Nous avons heureusement surmonté tout attendrissement.

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.