The painting opens with a soliloquy by the artist, in which he tells the audience that he is going to paint a beautiful watercolor of his mistress. He tells her that she is beautiful and that he will change her opinion of him if she likes him. He says that his daughter, Lily, is a talented artist, and he will show her what he is made of. Lily is a servant, he says, and the two of them are just normal friends. Lily's father says that he does not approve of his son-in-law pursuing Lily, because of the disparity between their families. The artist then tells Lily that he has come to pick her up and take her to the riverside. He asks Lily if she would like to share a carriage with him, and Lily says that she would. He then asks her to be careful on her way, as he will be following her