The Real Thing

“My ‘illustrations’ were my pot-boilers; I looked to a different branch of art (far and away it had always seemed to me), to perpetuate my fame.”

The artist is aware that his craft lies not in trying to perfectly duplicate a model but rather to alter the model to fit his own vision. The artist makes his “fortune” through commercial illustrations that serve a general readership. Although he desires the “fame” associated with more sophisticated work, the bulk of his creative efforts simply pay the bills. The artist’s internal conflict develops the theme of Aesthetics Versus Ethics.

“I was disappointed, for in the practical sense, I had immediately seen them. I had seized their type and I had already settled what I would do with them. Something that wouldn’t absolutely have pleased them, I afterwards reflected.”

The artist’s struggle between depicting an ideal and being true to reality develops the theme of Perception and Authenticity in Artistry. He has an idea of how the Monarchs fit into his work process, but his artistry conflicts with the Monarchs’ own sense of identity. After a superficial assessment, the artist determines that the Monarchs would be better suited for advertising than artistic modeling.

“I liked them—they were so simple; and I had no objection to them if they would suit. But, somehow, with all their perfections I didn’t easily believe in them.”

The artist’s initial view of the Monarchs develops the theme of Perception and Authenticity in Artistry. He believes that they are too perfect, whereas someone like the malleable Miss Churm is a more ideal model. The artist recognizes the strength of the Monarchs’ social standing yet is hesitant to employ them as amateurs. The Monarchs reinforce this doubt by admitting that they have no professional skills.

“Oh, you think she’s shabby, but you must allow for the alchemy of art.”

Although Miss Churm is a working-class model, she is characterized as versatile and remarkable in her craft. While “alchemy”—or the transformation of matter—may help to create fascinating figures, it cannot be used to reshape steadfast models like the Monarchs into appealing artworks. 

“Their address was humble (I remember afterwards thinking it had been the only thing about them that was really professional), and I could fancy the lamentable lodgings in which the Major would have been left alone.”

The artist has taken note of where the Monarchs live and can draw the conclusion that their arrival was out of necessity for money, not out of genuine interest in art. The way they present themselves with such humility supports the theme of Social Hierarchy in Late 19th-Century England. 

“I could see she had been photographed often, but somehow the very habit that made her good for that purpose unfitted her for mine.”

The allusion to Mrs. Monarch’s prior photography modeling thematically illustrates Perception and Authenticity in Artistry. The narrator’s off-hand comment reflects the view of photography as a subpar medium for creating art, a position held by artists of the historical period. However, the narrator also expresses his understanding of the powers of photography—specifically its ability to reveal truth. The narrator almost seems aware of this and resignedly uses it in his work on Mrs. Monarch’s portrait, leading us to question what truths about her he is unknowingly laying bare in his drawings.

“He looked after the fire and had an opinion on the draught of the stove, without my asking him, and I could see that he thought many of my arrangements were not half clever enough.”

The Major’s interactions with the narrator reveal his efforts to maintain social appearances. The Monarchs’ charade develops the theme of Social Hierarchy in Late 19th-Century England. Although they are experiencing financial hardship, the Monarchs still possess a keen eye for detail and an appreciation for good craftsmanship. This reveals how class is more than just money; it is an attitude and attention to detail that shapes one’s perception of the world. The artist’s own craftsmanship is admired by the Monarchs, though they may not fully understand its purpose or importance. This further demonstrates their lack of understanding of art, which makes them unfit subjects for his work.

“She was the real thing, but always the same thing.”

A recurring motif is the phrase “the real thing,” which develops the themes of Perception and Authenticity in Artistry and Aesthetics Versus Ethics.

Mrs. Monarch is portrayed as an artificial construct. Despite her outward appearance of being “the real thing,” she is unable to change or adapt. She can only maintain a fragile version of reality that fails when held up to scrutiny. This concept highlights the fragility of class status, which can be easily shattered if it does not hold up under close examination. The artist’s observation also speaks to the power of art, which can strip away superficialities and reveal truth.

“Arrange as I would, she always, in my pictures, came out too tall—landing me in the dilemma of having represented a fascinating woman as seven feet high, which, out of respect perhaps to my own very much scantier inches, was far from my idea of such a personage.”

Height is a recurring motif the supports the theme of Perception and Authenticity in Artistry. In the artist’s drawings, his distortion of Mrs. Monarch’s height reflects his own insecurity and prejudice. By making her appear taller, he is subconsciously elevating her above himself. To reconcile his perceived inferiority, the artist attributes his failings to Mrs. Monarch’s inflexibility.

“The case was worse with the Major—nothing I could do would keep him down, so that he became useful only for the representations of brawny giants.”

The motif of height also develops the theme of Social Hierarchy in Late 19th-Century England. In attempting to use Major Monarch as the hero of Rutland Ramsay, the narrator cannot make him appear small or average. This reflects the Major’s own inability to be diminished in class status by his circumstances; despite his lack of money and power, he still displays an air of dignity and self-assurance, which makes him appear as a giant in the narrator’s eyes.

“It was followed by the entrance of a young man whom I easily perceived to be a foreigner and who proved in fact an Italian acquainted with no English word but my name, which he uttered in a way that made it seem to include all others.”

The character of Oronte is a foil to Major Monarch. As an Italian immigrant, Oronte does not speak English. However, his ability to recognize and say the narrator’s name highlights the power of connection and understanding that can transcend language barriers. In its various forms, art can bridge divides and reveal truths beyond what words can express.

“‘Now the drawings you make from us, they look exactly like us,’ she reminded me, smiling in triumph; and I recognized that this was indeed just their defect. When I drew the Monarchs I couldn’t, somehow, get away from them—get into the character I wanted to represent; and I had not the least desire my model should be discoverable in my pictures.”

Mrs. Monarch’s observation of the artist’s inability to capture her and her husband in his drawings is indicative of the power of art. His failure is due to his inability to see beyond their status and class, further developing the theme of Perception and Authenticity in Artistry. He is unable to capture the truth of who they are, which speaks to the power of art to reveal truths that may otherwise be overlooked.

“But she quieted me with a glance I shall never forget—I confess I should like to have been able to paint that—and went for a moment to my model.”

This turning point in the story illustrates Mrs. Monarch’s character development. Her glance speaks volumes about her perseverance. Despite her former class snobbery, Mrs. Monarch adopts the role of attendant. With a single glance, she communicates a depth of understanding and wisdom related to her situation in life. Her request to interrupt the session to style Miss Churm’s hair illustrates her resignation but not defeat.