Chapters 19 and 20 Summary

Goldmund works on the carving project for two years, with Erich as his apprentice during the second year. The project becomes complex, including a sculpted garden and scenes from the lives of saints. For imagery, Goldmund draws on all his experiences, including women he has met and the horrors he witnessed during the plague. Astonished and impressed, Narcissus says he is learning much from Goldmund about art, and about his friend's deep sensitivities. Goldmund says he envies Narcissus, but the latter replies that each path in life has its difficulties. Goldmund begins work on an altar for a nearby chapel, but he lets Erich do much of it, except a madonna statue that he wants to make in the likeness of Lydia, the knight's elder daughter. He takes to roaming in the woods, and meets a peasant girl who likes him...