In which the creation of Anna’s portrait by the artist Mihailov reveals subtle tensions between artistic talent and societal standing, while Vronsky’s own artistic pursuits falter under the weight of discerning taste and self-awareness. The ennui of life in the Italian town grows palpable, prompting Anna and Vronsky to seek the solace and change offered by a return to the Russian countryside.

In which a couple finds quiet happiness together after their return from Moscow, engaging in simple, familiar pastimes while a thoughtful discussion of agricultural reform and the challenges of modernity unfolds quietly in the background. As domestic contentment blooms, undercurrents of restlessness and self-reflection stir within, revealing the delicate balance between love, duty, and personal aspiration.

In which Levin, newly wedded and keenly hopeful, discovers the manifold complexities and unforeseen trials of domestic life, finding that love alone does not suffice to smooth the path of matrimony. Their early days are marked by tender joys intermingled with misunderstandings and quarrels arising from the delicate task of learning each other’s needs and temperaments, a time both bitter and humbling before the promise of harmony slowly dawns.

In which the artist Mihailov wrestles with domestic strife yet channels his vexations into a burst of artistic inspiration, capturing with vivid clarity the lively pose and character of his subject. His restless mind, ever eager for recognition and understanding, leads him to prepare his studio for the arrival of distinguished visitors, setting the stage for an encounter coloured by expectations and uncertain impressions.

In which the painter Mihailov nervously presents his solemn depiction of Pilate and Christ to three visitors—among them Anna and Vronsky—whose detached gazes prompt him to see his own work anew, wrestling with the fragile validation of his art and the elusive meaning behind its technique and expression. Through their tentative praise and critique, a quiet dialogue unfolds on the nature of artistic truth, faith, and the delicate unity required to move the soul, leaving Mihailov both exalted and unsettled.

In which a small circle of acquaintances gather to admire the haunting beauty of an artist’s forgotten study, stirring a fleeting revival of his own fervent convictions amidst the turbulent inconsistency of his creative spirit. The evening closes with a lively discourse on the nature of talent and the delicate promise of artistic promise unfulfilled by formal education.

In which Vronsky, newly settled in an old Italian palazzo, adopts the guise of an amateur artist absorbed in the past and present artistic milieu of his surroundings, whilst Anna observes with quiet unease the nurse who cares for her child. Their shared curiosity draws them to visit a struggling Russian painter, Mihailov, whose controversial work and misunderstood talent provoke a spirited discourse on art, faith, and modernity.

In which the restless currents of acquaintance and ideology converge in a quaint Italian town, as past friendships rekindle and new impressions settle gently upon the steadfast bonds of companionship. Amongst talk of art and earnest philosophies, there lingers the delicate warmth of shared moments and unspoken understandings that whisper beneath the bright veneer of social grace.

In which Anna, newly recovered and exhilarated by a fresh love abroad, reflects on the past with a blend of joy and uneasy detachment, while embracing the tender attentions of Vronsky amidst a life reshaped by choice and consequence. Vronsky, though seemingly fulfilled, finds himself restless and seeking distraction in art, discovering in portraiture a fleeting source of satisfaction amid the ennui that shadows their liberty.

In which a solemn and radiant ceremony binds two souls in matrimony, their hearts swelling with a joy that seems to illuminate even the priest and congregation alike. The newlyweds, touched by a tender and almost sacred closeness, step forth from the church into the beginning of their shared life, carrying with them the innocent hope of all that lies ahead.