# Gombauld — Crome Yellow character guide

> Gombauld in Crome Yellow by Aldous Huxley.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** R. Gombauld, XXIII Gombauld

**First appearance:** 0000-i

## Snapshot

A black-haired Provençal painter of thirty, all flashing teeth and easy confidence, whose portrait of Anne turns slowly diabolic as his desire sours.

## Who they are

Gombauld works furiously on a portrait of Anne that is terribly like her and, he decides, the most malicious of lies — a doll's mask with the inward lights extinguished. His restless, unsatisfied desire converts itself into feverish energy, and Denis watches him with envy of both his talent and his looks. As Anne's other suitor, he turns the novel's romantic triangle into a study of how art and appetite can curdle into cruelty.

## Relationships

### [Anne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crome_yellow_se/characters/anne)

_romantic_

Anne shares a flirtatious and potentially romantic connection with the painter Gombauld, creating tension with Denis.

### [Denis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crome_yellow_se/characters/denis)

_rivalry_

Denis and Gombauld are rivals for Anne's affection, with underlying artistic jealousy.

### [Mr. Scogan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crome_yellow_se/characters/mr_scogan)

_social_

Gombauld and Mr. Scogan exchange sharp, intellectual opinions as fellow guests.

### [Anne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crome_yellow_se/characters/anne)

_romantic_

Anne shares a flirtatious and potentially romantic connection with the painter Gombauld, creating tension with Denis.

### [Mr. Scogan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crome_yellow_se/characters/mr_scogan)

_social_

Gombauld and Mr. Scogan exchange sharp, intellectual opinions as fellow guests.

### [Anne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crome_yellow_se/characters/anne)

_romantic_

Anne shares a flirtatious and potentially romantic connection with the painter Gombauld, creating tension with Denis.

### [Mr. Scogan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crome_yellow_se/characters/mr_scogan)

_social_

Gombauld and Mr. Scogan exchange sharp, intellectual opinions as fellow guests.

### [Denis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crome_yellow_se/characters/denis)

_rivalry_

Denis and Gombauld are rivals for Anne's affection, with underlying artistic jealousy.

### [Denis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crome_yellow_se/characters/denis)

_rivalry_

Denis and Gombauld are rivals for Anne's affection, with underlying artistic jealousy.

## In the story

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crome_yellow_se/chapters/iii)

Vivacious and confident, leans over Anne's chair, laughing and gesturing; Denis envies his looks and vitality.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crome_yellow_se/chapters/v)

Passionately argues for life and multiplication, urging everyone to have children and thumping the bull with his stick.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crome_yellow_se/chapters/vii)

Considered by Mary as a potential partner; described as having more talent but less civilised than Denis.

### [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crome_yellow_se/chapters/x)

Dances with Anne as a single harmonious creature; described as having a face of brass.

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crome_yellow_se/chapters/xii)

Working intensely on a representational painting of a man fallen from a horse; dismisses Mary's advances and intellectual pretensions.

### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crome_yellow_se/chapters/xiii)

Inquires about the amusing or tragic content of the family history.

### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crome_yellow_se/chapters/xiv)

Interjects to comment on Knockespotch's occasional obscurity.

### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crome_yellow_se/chapters/xvi)

Notices Mr. Scogan's smile and prompts him to share his thoughts.

### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crome_yellow_se/chapters/xxi)

Paints Anne's portrait with furious energy, accusing her of playing games and luring him on.

### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crome_yellow_se/chapters/xxii)

Accompanies Anne to the studio; Denis suggests visiting him to interrupt their time together.

### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crome_yellow_se/chapters/xxiii)

Painting Anne; initially irritated but welcomes the interruption.

### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crome_yellow_se/chapters/xxiv)

Appears in Jenny's caricature as a dancing couple with Anne.

### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crome_yellow_se/chapters/xxv)

Volunteers as a lightning artist for the Fair and engages in a brief exchange with Mr. Scogan about holidays.

### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crome_yellow_se/chapters/xxviii)

Dances with Anne, part of the harmonious couples.

### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crome_yellow_se/chapters/xxix)

Attempts to kiss Anne by the pool after the fair; rebuffed, he reacts with anger and frustration.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crome_yellow_se/characters/gombauld
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crome_yellow_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crome_yellow_se/characters