Girl In Hyacinth Blue

The chapter begins with Richard, an artist and teacher at a boy’s school, narrating the story about Cornelius Engelbrecht and his coveted painting. Cornelius, a math teacher, always seems controlled and internalized: “distracted by a mystery or preoccupied by an intellectual or moral dilemma” (3). Cornelius and Richard attend their dean’s funeral. Afterward, Cornelius invites Richard over to his house, and Richard believes it’s because the dean’s last words, “Love enough,” have stirred him.

When Richard arrives, Cornelius takes him to a large study. Richard is immediately taken with the beauty of a painting on the wall. He mentions that it looks like a Vermeer. Cornelius tells him it is a Vermeer. Richard sows doubt, and the two men discuss their opinions about why or why it is not a painting by the famed Dutch painter. Many of the attributes of the painting do seem to be in the style of a Vermeer, but there is no signature. When Richard asks Cornelius whether he has had it appraised, Cornelius quickly says no; “I prefer it not be known. Security risks” (8). Cornelius tells Richard that he just wanted him to see it and appreciate it.