An artist, especially a great artist, finds it easy to give his house an attractive appearance.

He desires comfort in it, and only the beautiful is comfortable to him.

Whatever would disturb harmony offends his eye, and to secure the noblest ornament of his house he need not invite any stranger to cross its threshold.

The Muse, the best of assistants, joins him unbidden.
Leonax, Barine's father, had been thus aided to transform the interior of his house into a very charming residence.

He had painted on the walls of his own work-room incidents in the life of Alexander the Great, the founder of his native city, and on the frieze a procession of dancing Cupids.
Here Barine now received her guests, and the renown of these paintings was not one of the smallest inducements which had led Antony to visit the young beauty and to take his son, in whom he wished to awaken at least a fleeting pleasure in art.