The Dolliver Romance and Other Pieces Section X - An Old Woman's Tale

The Marble Faun Chapter V - Miriam's Studio

In which the young Donatello ascends the ancient staircase of a venerable Roman palace to visit the artist Miriam in her dusky studio, where shadows and light converse in painterly whispers and her sketches reveal the tender and turbulent workings of a woman’s heart. There, amidst her varied portrayals of love, sorrow, and rejoicing, Miriam unveils a haunting self-portrait that captivates Donatello’s simple, sprite-like spirit with its solemn beauty and unspoken depths.

The Marble Faun Chapter VI - The Virgin's Shrine

In which the gentle Miriam visits the lofty dwelling of the young artist Hilda, perched above Rome’s bustling streets beside an ancient shrine, where purity and artistic devotion intertwine in serene harmony. Here, Hilda’s rare gift for soulful appreciation leads her to become a humble yet masterful copyist, faithfully reflecting the immortal beauty of Italy’s great painters rather than striving for her own original creations.

The Marble Faun Chapter IV - The Spectre Of The Catacomb

In which a lost companion emerges from the depths of the ancient catacombs, accompanied by a mysterious figure whose enigmatic presence intertwines with the haunted shadows of Rome’s forgotten sanctuaries. The ensuing murmurs and fanciful tales mingle with the melancholy and unrest observed in the artist’s demeanour, as her devoted friends grapple with the uneasy truth behind this spectral attendance.

The Marble Faun Chapter III - Subterranean Reminiscences

In which the enigmatic Miriam, an artist of passionate impulse and guarded mystery, navigates the shadows of Roman society and forms a rare intimacy with a select few companions, while whispers of her obscure origins weave fanciful tales around her. Together with her friends, she ventures into the subterranean gloom of the catacombs, where ancient silence and spectral legends cast a somber veil over their fellowship.

The Marble Faun Chapter II - The Faun

In which three friends muse upon their companion Donatello’s uncanny likeness to the marble Faun, indulging in reveries that blend the playful with the profound as they wander through a gallery of ancient statues. Their light-hearted enchantment gives way to a more pensive and uneasy mood, culminating in the unsettling discovery of a figure from Miriam’s past, whose sudden presence stirs Donatello’s wrath.