The novel, translated from the French, presents the fictional autobiography of the unknown painter of an important but little known triptych, terminated in 1542. Told by its anonymous author, it reveals in direct language the real adventure of creating a huge art work in the time of the Renaissance under difficult circumstances. It offers direct insight in the meterial and psychological obstacles to take before work becomes art. The actual novel is followed by an extensive afterword by the author, describing the conditions of the origin of the book, as it was published in France in 1988.