An Artist Makes an Exhibition of Himself explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Deception and Disguise

  Alphonso Blaxton deceives the public by writing his own flattering review; the Princess Bacheffski's shorthand and veil suggest hidden motives.

• Class and Social Status

  Moya's education at Newnham and her engagement to Sir Ralph Sapson highlight class expectations; the artist's casual Oxford manner contrasts with his bohemian appearance.

Characters to notice

• Lady Moya Felton

  Visits an art exhibition and encounters the artist Alphonso Blaxton, who confesses his paintings are terrible.

• Alphonso Blaxton

  The artist exhibiting his work; he admits his paintings are monstrosities and that he wrote his own flattering review.

• Sir Ralph Sapson

  Discusses the gold train's timetable and security with the Princess Bacheffski in his car.

• The Princess Bacheffski

  Rides with Sir Ralph Sapson and learns details about the gold train; she uses a private shorthand.

• Michael Pretherston

  Mentioned by Sir Ralph as a policeman he wishes to avoid meeting in the park.

Key passages

• “No man has ever understood a woman, for the simple reason that woman is unintelligible even to her own kind.”

  Men cannot comprehend women because women are incomprehensible even to each other.

  Opening aphorism about the mystery of women.

• “I think it is—'weird' is the word. As a work of art how does it strike you?”

  He finds the painting strange and asks her opinion of it as art.

  Alphonso Blaxton asks Moya for her honest opinion of his painting.

• “I wrote it myself.”

  He confesses he authored the flattering review of his own work.

  Blaxton admits to writing the positive newspaper critique.