The Primitives did not impassion him by reason of any particular mysticism and ideality, such as fashion pretends to find in them, but on the contrary, and justifiably enough, by reason of the sincerity of their ingenuous realism, their respect and modesty in presence of nature, and the minute fidelity with which they sought to transcribe it.

He spent days of hard work in copying and studying them, in order to learn strictness and probity of drawing from them--all that lofty distinction of style which they owe to their candour as honest artists.
Pierre was struck by the pure glow which a sitting of good hard work had set in Antoine's light blue eyes.

It imparted warmth and even feverishness to his fair face, which was usually all dreaminess and gentleness.

His lofty forehead now truly looked like a citadel armed for the conquest of truth and beauty.

He was only eighteen, and his story was simply this: as he had grown disgusted with classical studies and been mastered by a passion for drawing, his father had let him leave the Lycee Condorcet when he was in the third class there.