Day 0226

Dashed into the Louvre to look at the Dutch galleries, only to find that they're being refurbished. Spent the rest of the day labouring on an abysmal portrait of my friend in a cafe. It just doesn't look like her at all. I'd like to find an excuse and say that I couldn't concentrate (I couldn't) or that the model moved (she didn't), but the fact is a good artist's bad work would still be better than this dross.

Again I'm confronted with the all-too-real limits of my abilities. Slowly realizing that I am one of the faceless millions, not the vanishingly rare exalted soul I so persistently believe myself to be.

Nevertheless a wonderful, fulfilling day in Paris. Human contact, art, walking, an excellent book. Finished The Charterhouse of Parma, which was completely absorbing, speaking directly to my imagination with its Italian prison towers, hopeless love stories and lady-killer lead.