Chapter Thirty-Three
GRIETE HOUSE, ANTWERP, 1629
The old easel Clara had used as a girl, found stored in the attic, proved more than adequate for her needs. Her former studio had become a small library and Constanza had taken to sitting in there to read while Clara painted. Her suggestion for Clara to attempt a full-size self-portrait had quickly struck her as the right project to distract her.
She put down her brush and looked across at Constanza, reading quietly. She had thought it would be difficult to share the room in this way, but her presence had proved a comfort. She had never really got to know her until now. In truth, a self-indulgent and quite undeserved resentment had prevented it. How entirely shameful such behaviour seemed to her now. Constanza had won Henri’s heart and th
