Signor Formica by E. T. A. Hoffmann. Short summary

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Antonio is in love with Mariana. But her uncle, the very rich and avaricious Signor Capuzzi, does not want to let his niece go. The painter Salvatore comes to his aid.

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Arriving from Naples, Salvatore becomes very ill. The artist employs the proven services of a priest healer. The latter calls on the young surgeon Antonio Scaccati, who turns out to be an admirer of the painter.

The surgeon wants to quit his job and devote himself entirely to painting. He shows his studio to the painter, Salvator notes that the young man has great talent. When Antonio shows a portrait of Magdalena as his best work, the painter sees through his colleague. He is in love with his model. Mariana, the model from whom Magdalena is drawn, grows up an orphan by her rich and greedy uncle, Pasquale Capuzzi, who does not want to give the girl in marriage to a surgeon.

Antonio, with the help of Salvatore, manages to wrest Mariana from the «clinging hands» of Capuzzi. The story ends happily: the couple in love are reunited, and the old uncle spends the rest of his days with them.