Individual Reading 6

From Strickland's doctor in charge of the case the narrator got to know that he had suffered from a grave disease: it was leprosy. All his neighbors and acquaintances had avoided his house being afraid to become infected. And only Ata with his children had been devoted to Charles to the utmost, although on of his children died from the infection. The artist's disease was taking very slowly and painfully. But in spite of it he had painted on the walls of his house before losing his sight. After his death, at Charles's request, the house was burnt by Ata, and she with her child had gone away.
Charles Strickland was a bright example of the artists who had become recognized only after their death.