THE MASTER ARTIST

Learning outcomes
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
●● identify the cause-and-effect format of the story.
●● explain how suspense is created and maintained, and the comic touch at the end.
●● express how the artist puts forth his ideas boldly and with passion.
●● recognise the excitement of a master artist trying to impress his client.
●● empathise with the anxieties faced by the artist in not being able to experiment with his artistic
sensibilities (Cubism/modern art).
●● deduce meanings of new terms and phrases in the text.
●● identify and use complex prepositions in sentences.
●● identify target verbs and phrases in context and use them in sentences.
●● make diary entries.

Pre-reading
●● Judging from the title, what do you think the story will be about?
●● How would you react to people who think differently? Would you accept their new ideas or would
you reject them? Why would you do so?

Understanding the Text
Monsieur Signy…Let's draw up the contract."
Ask students:
When did this event happen? (About 600 years ago.)
Why did Bartoli send for l’Abbaye? (He wanted an
artist who was well known and considered a master
artist.) What does the situation tell us about life in
those times? (That aristocrats engaged well-known
artists to paint their portraits.) What does l’Abbaye
mean by asking Bartoli to let him use his abilities
to the fullest? (He wanted his patron to let him
experiment with new techniques.) Why did the artist
refuse payment for his services? (He was so eager to
feel free to paint as he pleased that he was even willing
to paint for free.) Why did the patron engage the
artist despite the unusual terms and conditions?
(He had heard that l’Abbaye was a great artist and
wanted to get his portrait painted by him at any cost.)
Discuss:
The problems artists faced in those times. (The
guilds that sponsored the artists did not allow them
to paint as they pleased; they had to conform to the
current styles of portrait painting.Their work would
not be recognised otherwise.)
Now a glint…asked the hopeful Signor Bartoli.
Why was l’Abbaye excited at seeing the twenty-
foot-tall wall? (He knew he could give free rein to
his imagination while painting on that large space.)
Why did l’Abbaye demand total privacy while he
worked? (He did not want Bartoli intruding while
he let go of his imagination.) How does the writer
show that a different—and secret—plan was also

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 set in motion? (The writer says that l’Abbaye secretly Picasso some five hundred years later.) What did the
desired to break away from the accepted styles of writer add to l’Abbaye’s earlier speech that might
painting and experiment with his own. And now the make Bartoli feel even worse now? (Earlier, l’Abbaye
space provided for him to paint the portrait of Bartoli had assured Bartoli that he was using the best plaster
made him think of breaking free to try himself out.) process that would make his portrait last forever. And
now, when Bartoli saw what he considered a hideous
Answering him…Just how long would this take? painting, he was upset that his portrait would last
How did l’Abbaye explain the time he was taking forever.)
to paint Bartoli’s portrait? (He said that when he
Appreciating the Text
was barely eight years old, he had been trained by
Lorenzetti on how to plaster the wall and grind the The story is developed in a cause-and-effect format.
colours while painting frescos. And he had been
advised never to hurry.) Why did l’Abbaye say Bartoli CAUSE EFFECT
was lucky to have him paint the portrait? (The artist
had prepared the wall for the best fresco and Bartoli’s The guild did not let l’Abbaye was
painting would last forever and was, therefore, worth l’Abbaye experiment frustrated that he was
the time taken.) with his unusual ideas not able to paint as he
wished.
Tell students: l'Abbaye was famous Bartoli, a rich Italian,
about the training of artists at that time. (Children and recommended engaged him to paint
were apprenticed to well-known painters to learn his portrait.
through practice.)
l’Abbaye had insisted l'Abbaye was able
Another three,…I’ll have you thrown out!" that no one, not even to realise his dream.
Bartoli, should see the Bartoli could not see
Why did Bartoli insist on seeing the painting one portrait while he was the work in progress.
day? (He had waited for six long months and had, painting it. This made him
therefore, lost his patience.) How did l’Abbaye impatient and he was
respond to his patron’s impatience? (He was calm frustrated.
as he invited his patron to see his portrait because he
had finished painting it.) Did Bartoli like his portrait? Bartoli was not open to He could not
Why do you think so? (He did not like his portrait one new ideas appreciate the way
bit. He was so furious when he saw it that he asked l’Abbaye had painted
l’Abbaye to get out of his house without any payment him
before he was thrown out.)
This story features suspense as we have to find
So what had…five hundred years too early! out if l’Abbaye will be able to make the best of the
Why was l’Abbaye not disappointed with his opportunity he has got to try out his own method
patron’s response to his portrait? (He did not mind of painting Bartoli’s portrait.
his patron’s response because he had painted as he It is maintained through the privacy l’Abbaye
had always desired, putting is heart and soul into the insists on and Bartoli's curiosity to know why the
painting. He was happy that, at last, he was able to artist was taking an unusually long time to paint
realise his dream and paint his masterpiece. He had his portrait. The readers already have a hint that the
perhaps expected this reaction) Was l’Abbaye crazy artist was planning to experiment with his creative
as his patron thought he was? Give a reason for talent.
your answer. (No, he was not. He was only a misfit
Theme: An individual need not be wrong because
in the society of his time. He was, perhaps, the first
he does not follow the crowd.
artist in the Cubist style of painting made famous by

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 Post- reading
Discussion:
Perhaps majority wins but majority is not always right.
Discuss the issue by pointing out:
●● The general practice of taking a majority vote to check out the general consensus.
●● The possibility that the minority could be making a very valid point by opposing the general
opinion.
●● The wisdom of a compromise.

Grammar and Usage simple and complex prepositions

Review the concept of prepositions with the class.
Point out to students that prepositions are not always single words and that there are prepositions
that are made of more words than one.
Tell students that these are called complex prepositions and function together as a preposition.
Proceed to explain the concept of complex prepositions.
Put up a list of complex prepositions to help students understand the concept better.

according to except for repetition

contrary to far from in between
due to in addition to a long with
thanks to a head of a part from
in (the) case of as well as because of
in charge of in front of instead of
in spite of next to owing to
together with with respect to such as

Let students work in pairs and frame one sentence with each of the prepositions. You may allot a
preposition to each pair to avoid repetition.
Review the work.

Words in Use verbs and phrases in context

Tell students:
●● Work in pairs.
●● Read the given words of the incomplete sentence carefully and try to guess the word/s that could
fit in the blank space. Ask each other clue questions that could help arrive at the answers.
Example: During the debate, the speaker ___ even after the buzzer went off.

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 ●● When does the buzzer go off? When we talk continuously and when it’s time to stop.
●● So what did the speaker do even after the buzzer went off? He may have continued to talk.
●● Next refer to the paragraphs and skim for the target word or for one that is closest in meaning to
your own.
●● If you do not find the target words, then read the paragraph carefully until you close in on the word
that completes the sentence meaningfully.

Writing dairy entry

Share the following input with students:
●● Write the date, day and time of entry.
●● Write in an informal, personal style: Dear Diary, Wow! What a chance of a lifetime to paint a portrait just
as I had always wanted to do! (Provide highlights from the story to help you remember the context
years later when you may re-read this.)
●● Express how you expected Bartoli to react: I was absolutely sure Bartoli would be thrilled to see his
portrait. I had taken such pains over it…
●● Say how you felt when you saw his reaction: I was stupefied to see how furious he was. How he raved
and ranted! How he insisted I should clear out! Of course, I cleared out. I don’t want to have anything
to do with people who cannot appreciate my hard work. And the sad thing is that the painting is really
good though I’m saying it myself…

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 WORKSHEET
THE MASTER ARTIST GRAMMAR

Name of Student: Class:

A. Write the correct preposition with each of these words to form complex prepositions.

1. in of.   2. on of

3. to  4. with

5. from  6. until

B. Make sentences with any five complex prepositions that you have written.

THE MASTER ARTIST VOCABULARY

Name of Student: Class:

Choose the correct verbs/phrases from the box and complete the sentences.

insisted enraged time-consuming endeavour recommended under a spell

1. This book is highly .

2. They on paying for the meal.

3. This task is not only difficult to do but also a .

4. The cats had a fixed gaze and looked as if they were .

5. Parul was when the strangers kept teasing her dog repeatedly.

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 WORKSHEET
THE MASTER ARTIST WRITING

Name of Student: Class:

Bartoli was a heartbroken man after seeing the portrait. He made a diary entry expressing how he
felt on that day. Write a diary entry imagining yourself to be Bartoli.

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 ANSWER KEY TO THE WORKSHEETS

THE MASTER ARTIST

Answer key to the grammar worksheet
A. few examples: 1.  in charge of; in front of   2.  on account of   3.  contrary to; due to
4. along with  5. away from  6. up until
B. free response

Answer key to the vocabulary worksheet

1. recommended  2. insisted  3. time-consuming endeavour  4. under a spell
5. enraged

QUESTION BANK WITH ANSWER KEY

THE MASTER ARTIST

1. Read the line and answer the questions.

“That’s fine. You needed only to request it.” And he pulled aside the twenty-foot-tall curtain.
a. Who speaks the above line and to whom?
b. Why did he say that the person had only to request?
c. What was the demand of the person?
d. What was behind the twenty-foot-tall curtain?
Answers:
a. The above line is spoken by Monsieur I’Abbaye to Signor Bartoli.
b. Signor Bartoli was impatient and frustrated and his tone was rude.
c. Signor Bartoli wanted to see his portrait made by the artist Monsieur I’Abbaye and he had waited
too long for it.
d. Monsieur l'Abbaye had been working on the portrait of Signor Bartoli behind the curtain for
months.

2. Answer in brief.
a. Why did Signor Bartoli agree to l'Abbaye’s demands?
Signor Bartoli, a rich Italian patron was very keen to have his portrait on the wall of his dining
hall. Although he felt that Monsieur l'Abbaye’s demands were very strange, he wanted to get his
portrait done only by him because he was an artist of great repute and Bartoli was confident that
l'Abbaye would produce a masterpiece.

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 b. Why do you think I'Abbaye wanted to make Bartoli’s portrait in secrecy?
Bartoli had asked I'Abbaye to make his portrait on a twenty-foot-tall and the space impressed
the artist. He wanted to make use of that space to make the portrait using his unique creative
imagination. He probably knew that Bartoli would not let him create the portrait the way he
wanted. So, he wanted total privacy.

3. Answer in detail.
In what way did Monsieur I'Abbaye test Signor Bartoli’s patience? Was he satisfied with the outcome
in the end?
Bartoli had hired Monsieur I'Abbaye to make his portrait on the wall of his dining hall where everyone
could see it. Monsieur I'Abbaye on the other hand wanted to make use of that opportunity to give
wings to his artistic imagination and wanted to paint the portrait in absolute secrecy. Weeks and
months passed but l'Abbaye was not ready to show the painting. He would keep talking about
different things which did not interest Bartoli. All he wanted was to see his portrait. Finally, frustrated
with the delay, when Bartoli forced l'Abbaye to show his painting, he was shocked and angered as he
could not tolerate l'Abbaye Cubist expression on the portrait.
4. Think and answer
Why do you think the author feels Monsieur Signy I’Abbaye had born five hundred years too early?
Monsieur l'Abbaye was a great artist who did not have the freedom to paint in the style of his choice.
The style he wanted to work on became famous in the early twentieth century. Monsieur Signy I’
Abbaye had discovered that five centuries earlier. But at that time he never received any recognition
for that style of art.

STUDENTS’ BOOK ANSWER KEY

THE MASTER ARTIST

1. The writer shows us that l’Abbaye was also forming a different and secret plan by telling us that a glint
came to l’Abbaye’s eyes as he looked at the wall and thought of the space. It suggests that l’Abbaye
was planning to use the space in a way different from what Bartoli thought.
2. In para 11, l’Abbaye told Bartoli that the portrait would last forever. Since Bartoli did not like the
portrait at all, remembering that would make him feel even worse.

Understanding the Text

A. 2. Monsieur Signy l’Abbaye had been a master artist of his day. ...he also thought about how highly
the artist had been recommended.
3. ...for all of his career of forty-five years, Monsieur l’Abbaye had longed to paint in his own way.
...Monsieur Signy l’Abbaye had hungered to break free of restraints. But the guild, his craft and
livelihood, would never have allowed it. So he followed their rules...

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 4. Perhaps his patron could not tolerate his Cubist expression, but Pablo Picasso would have been
proud of him! If truth be told, Monsieur l’Abbaye wasn’t crazy, not at all. He’d simply been born five
hundred years too early!
B. 1. Yes, there was another reason why l’Abbaye told Bartoli that he did not have to pose for him.
l’Abbaye had planned to finally paint the way he had always wanted to, but had never got the
chance to. He did not want Bartoli to see how he was painting the portrait, as it was going to be in
a new and different style.
2. According to l’Abbaye, the painting was taking so long because his teacher Ambrogio Lorenzetti
had taught him how to grind pigment and lay plaster slowly and quickly, and had taught him not
to hurry. He also said that the painting was going to be a buon fresco, which needed four coats of
lime plaster and was time-consuming work.
3. The masterpiece took six months to finish. It took so long not only because it was a twenty-foot-
tall buon fresco which needed four coats of lime plaster, but also because l’Abbaye had fussed
over it and worked on it for a long time.
4. At this point, Bartoli was astonished. He also felt furious and disappointed. His mouth fell open, his
eyes turned red and his eyebrows twisted as if he was under a spell. He grabbed the few hairs on
his head, did a little hop and a twitch.
5. When Bartoli looked at the picture, he felt that l’Abbaye was not an artist because l’Abbaye had
painted the portrait in a completely new and different style from what was popular at that time.
Bartoli could not appreciate the style at all. He called him a thief because he thought l’Abbaye was
trying to take his money without painting a proper portrait. He called him a madman because his
style was so different from what Bartoli was used to that he could not understand why l’Abbaye
had painted that way.
C. 2. Bartoli agreed to the terms set down by l’Abbaye although he found the terms strange.
3. He had no idea how or in what style l’Abbaye was painting his portrait and could not stop or
influence l’Abbaye.
4. He did not like l’Abbaye’s work at all, and l’Abbaye’s unique talent could not be appreciated.
Free response.

Appreciating the Text

Suggested answer (accept any logical answer):
This story features suspense as we have to wait to find out, like Bartoli, why l’Abbaye does not wish his
work in progress to be seen. We do not know how he is painting the portrait—what it looks like—till the
very end. Like Bartoli, we feel curious and impatient to know more about the hidden portrait. At the end,
when we understand what happened and why, we feel surprised and amused. We cannot guess that
l’Abbaye would paint in such an unusual style, so the revelation would come as a surprise. It would also
be amusing because of how Bartoli reacts to the portrait. We may also feel impressed to realise how much
ahead of his time l’Abbaye was.

Grammar and Usage

A. 2. After, for  3. behind  4. in / after  5. at, towards  6. in, till  7. over
8. from, with

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 B. 2. Taxi drivers locate places easily by means of GPS.
3. She paid Rs 100 as service charges at the restaurant in addition to the bill.
4. Instead of Kodaikanal—if it is too far—we can go to Ooty.
5. On account of the severe heat, the school will remain closed for a week.

Words in Use
A. 1. retire  2. continued  3. longed  4. reveal  5. withdrew  6. tolerate
B. 1. give his imagination wings   2.  If truth be told   3.  my heart’s content
4. sighing deeply   5.  No matter what   6.  to break free   7.  last forever

Listening
Have you got all your things ready? Good. Now please pay attention to some basic instructions. First, you
have to mix the plaster-of-Paris in water—two parts plaster-of-Paris to one part water. Please check the
mixing ratios on the package you have as they may vary among different brands. You have to add the
plaster slowly while stirring, so that it mixes in thoroughly. The mixture should not be watery but still thin
enough to pour slowly off a spoon. The thinner the mixture the longer it takes to dry. After your cast or
mould is dry, paint the finished plaster with acrylic paints. Plaster-of-Paris is porous, so avoid water-based
paints if you want bold colours. Seal finished pieces with a clear gloss or matte paint if desired. Finally,
remember to wipe the mixing bowls and spoons immediately after use. And most important, please
listen! Avoid pouring unused plaster down the sink as it may clog the drains as it hardens.
a. 2  b. 
4  c. 
6  d. 
5  e. 
1  f. 
3

Writing
Sample answer:
What a day! Had just finished the portrait when Bartoli marched in, demanding to see it. This time,
I didn’t need to send him away with some excuse. I was ready to show him the buon fresco. It was looking
great—completely different from the styles I have had to follow for so long. I just hoped that Bartoli
would have some sense of creativity, or at least, some faith in my ability, so that he would accept the
portrait in good grace. And if I was lucky, maybe he would be as excited about the new style as I was.
But of course, I hoped for too much. When he did see it! What was the reaction?! You should have seen his
face! He hopped, he twitched, he called me a thief, madman and who knows what else! And why? Simply
because he did not have the sense to see how brilliant it was. Too bad that my patron had been expecting
something like the same old paintings that he had seen all his life. This is why I have never been able to
paint as I wish. Because people like Bartoli and those at the guild have no imagination—they cannot
appreciate something new and interesting and brave. Well, I don’t care. I am proud of what I have done. If I
get the chance, I will do it again. Someday, I am sure, the world will recognise the true worth of my unique
style.

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