Manette Salomon

"Manette Salomon" is a novel about artists that follows the careers of five painters in mid-19th century Paris. Anatole and Coriolis compete not only for recognition through artistic means but also promote themselves and their works in salons. They virtuously navigate through styles, schools, and genres in their quest for public attention, until their artistic rivalry intertwines with a competition for a woman. The appearance of Manette Salomon, the model and muse of Coriolis, turns the novel into a "group portrait with a lady," where the presence of the beautiful Jewish woman Manette obstructs the painters' view of their art and ultimately ends all artistic aspirations. The Goncourt brothers have been well-known to the general public since the publication of their 7,000-page diary. Their novel from 1867, which has not yet been translated into German, showcases great art.