The old neglected palazzo, with its lofty carved ceilings and frescoes¹ on the walls, with its floors of mosaic², with its heavy yellow stuff curtains on the windows, with its vases on pedestals, and its open fireplaces, its carved doors and gloomy reception rooms, hung with pictures--this palazzo did much, by its very appearance after they had moved into it, to confirm in Vronsky the agreeable illusion that he was not so much a Russian country gentleman, a retired³ army officer, as an enlightened amateur and patron of the arts, himself a modest artist who had renounced⁴ the world, his connections, and his ambition for the sake of the woman he loved.

The pose chosen by Vronsky with their removal into the palazzo was completely successful, and having, through Golenishtchev, made acquaintance with a few interesting people, for a time he was satisfied. He painted studies from nature under the guidance of an Italian professor of painting, and studied medieval Italian life. Medieval Italian life so fascinated Vronsky that he even wore a hat and flung a cloak over his shoulder in the medieval style, which, indeed, was extremely becoming to him.

"Here we live, and know nothing of what's going on," Vronsky said to Golenishtchev as he came to see him one morning. "Have you seen Mihailov's picture?" he said, handing him a Russian gazette he had received that morning, and pointing to an article on a Russian artist, living in the very same town, and just finishing a picture which had long been talked about, and had been bought beforehand. The article reproached the government and the academy for letting so remarkable⁵ an artist be left without encouragement and support.

"I've seen it," answered Golenishtchev. "Of course, he's not without talent, but it's all in a wrong direction. It's all the Ivanov-Strauss-Renan attitude to Christ and to religious painting."

"What is the subject of the picture?" asked Anna.

"Christ before Pilate. Christ is represented as a Jew with all the realism of the new school."

And the question of the subject of the picture having brought him to one of his favorite theories, Golenishtchev launched

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1 frescoes
n.壁画( fresco的名词复数 )；温壁画技法，湿壁画
参考例句：
The Dunhuang frescoes are gems of ancient Chinese art. 敦煌壁画是我国古代艺术中的瑰宝。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》 The frescoes in these churches are magnificent. 这些教堂里的壁画富丽堂皇。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 mosaic
n./adj.镶嵌细工的，镶嵌工艺品的，嵌花式的
参考例句：
The sky this morning is a mosaic of blue and white.今天早上的天空是幅蓝白相间的画面。 The image mosaic is a troublesome work.图象镶嵌是个麻烦的工作。

3 retired
adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的
参考例句：
The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。 Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

4 renounced
v.声明放弃( renounce的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布放弃；宣布与…决裂；宣布摒弃
参考例句：
We have renounced the use of force to settle our disputes. 我们已再次宣布放弃使用武力来解决争端。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Andrew renounced his claim to the property. 安德鲁放弃了财产的所有权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 remarkable
adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的
参考例句：
She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。 These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

6 forth
adv.向前；向外，往外
参考例句：
The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。 He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

7 depict
vt.描画，描绘；描写，描述
参考例句：
I don't care to see plays or films that depict murders or violence.我不喜欢看描写谋杀或暴力的戏剧或电影。 Children's books often depict farmyard animals as gentle,lovable creatures.儿童图书常常把农场的动物描写得温和而可爱。

8 sage
n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的
参考例句：
I was grateful for the old man's sage advice.我很感激那位老人贤明的忠告。 The sage is the instructor of a hundred ages.这位哲人是百代之师。

9 condescending
adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的
参考例句：
He has a condescending attitude towards women. 他对女性总是居高临下。 He tends to adopt a condescending manner when talking to young women. 和年轻女子说话时，他喜欢摆出一副高高在上的姿态。

10 uncouth
adj.无教养的，粗鲁的
参考例句：
She may embarrass you with her uncouth behavior.她的粗野行为可能会让你尴尬。 His nephew is an uncouth young man.他的侄子是一个粗野的年轻人。

11 atheism
n.无神论，不信神
参考例句：
Atheism is the opinion that there is no God.无神论是认为不存在上帝的看法。 Atheism is a hot topic.无神论是个热门话题。

12 materialism
n.［哲］唯物主义，唯物论；物质至上
参考例句：
Idealism is opposite to materialism.唯心论和唯物论是对立的。 Crass materialism causes people to forget spiritual values.极端唯物主义使人忘掉精神价值。

13 negation
n.否定；否认
参考例句：
No reasonable negation can be offered.没有合理的反对意见可以提出。 The author boxed the compass of negation in his article.该作者在文章中依次探讨了各种反面的意见。

14 savages
未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 )
参考例句：
There're some savages living in the forest. 森林里居住着一些野人。 That's an island inhabited by savages. 那是一个野蛮人居住的岛屿。

15 creeds
（尤指宗教）信条，教条( creed的名词复数 )
参考例句：
people of all races, colours and creeds 各种种族、肤色和宗教信仰的人 Catholics are agnostic to the Protestant creeds. 天主教徒对于新教教义来说，是不可知论者。

16 wary
adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的
参考例句：
He is wary of telling secrets to others.他谨防向他人泄露秘密。 Paula frowned,suddenly wary.宝拉皱了皱眉头，突然警惕起来。

17 resolutely
adj.坚决地，果断地
参考例句：
He resolutely adhered to what he had said at the meeting. 他坚持他在会上所说的话。 He grumbles at his lot instead of resolutely facing his difficulties. 他不是果敢地去面对困难，而是抱怨自己运气不佳。

18 decided
adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的
参考例句：
This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。 There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

19 lodging
n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍
参考例句：
The bill is inclusive of the food and lodging. 账单包括吃、住费用。 Where can you find lodging for the night? 你今晚在哪里借宿?