Who is Count Wenceslas Steinbock from Cousin Bette: Part One of Poor Relations and what is their importance? La_Cousine_Bette English & Literature Count Wenceslas Steinbock | Cousin Bette: Part One of Poor Relations

Wenceslas Steinbock is an artist and a nobleman. A refugee from Poland, Steinbock has a great deal of talent and vision, but not much motivation to earn a living creating art. Wenceslas has a sensitive nature, as his artwork proves, but he is nonetheless undisciplined and rather easily swayed. Living as Bette Fischer's protege, Wenceslas is kept on a very short leash because of Bette's jealousy. However, living under the same roof with Bette brings Steinbock to the point of actually producing, selling and receiving commissions for art.