Romola Chapter 18 - The Portrait

In which Tito, released from a burden of fear and deception, seeks the skill of the eccentric painter Piero di Cosimo to create a miniature triptych depicting the triumph of Bacchus and Ariadne, blending myth with a touch of personal secrecy. The encounter reveals Piero’s quaint workshop, his peculiar habits, and a striking oil-sketch portraying Tito with an expression of fearful joy, hinting at the painter’s fascination with the mingling of terror and gaiety.