The Glassmaker

The narrative resumes in 1797; Orsola is now 37 years old. Napoleon’s army has conquered Venice, creating instability and poverty. Klingenberg explains to Orsola that Napoleon’s wife, the Empress Josephine, is going to visit Venice, and he wants to present her with a necklace made of glass beads. Klingenberg speculates, “If Josephine samples the beauty and spirit of the place, she will be more inclined to encourage her husband to allow us our independence” (251). Orsola only has a few days to produce the necklace; she arranges to meet with Klara to find out more about Josephine and then works diligently to produce a stunning necklace. However, when the necklace is presented to Josephine, the empress takes little notice of it. Eventually, Napoleon hands Venice over to the Austrian empire as part of the treaty negotiations, and Venice consequently enters a period of decline and economic depression. Klingenberg decides to leave because his business is no longer profitable; this is a financial disaster for the Rosso workshop. Much to Orsola’s shock, Laura Rosso announces that the Rosso family can no longer rely on glass to make a living and must instead “think of the things that are needed every day.