The DiDomenico Fragment: A Symbol of Fragmented Legacy and Unyielding Appetite

What Is the DiDomenico Fragment?

The DiDomenico Fragment is a surviving portion of a Renaissance painting that once depicted the Annunciation. The original work, painted by Giuseppe DiDomenico for Lorenzo de’ Medici in 1475, showed the Archangel Gabriel announcing to the Virgin Mary that she would bear the Son of God. In 1888, the narrator’s great‑grandfather, Valentine Skinner, purchased the painting in Paris and brought it to New York. Unable to bear giving it away or selling it whole, he had the canvas cut into four equal quadrants and bequeathed one to each of his four sons. Each son received a framed section: one showed the landscape, another the interior, a third the archangel, and the fourth the Virgin. Over subsequent generations, further inheritances reduced the number of descendants holding fragments. By the time the story takes place, the narrator, Percy Skinner, possesses one small fragment (the landscape) while his nephew Peter owns the largest piece, which contains the face of the Virgin.

Where the Fragment Appears

The fragment is the central object in Chapter 6, titled “The DiDomenico Fragment.” It is mentioned early in the chapter when Percy recalls his great‑grandfather’s decision to quarter the Annunciation. Later, Percy visits Peter’s Brooklyn home and sees Peter’s fragment hanging over the fireplace. It reappears when a dealer named Sarkis approaches Percy, seeking to buy any DiDomenico fragment for an anonymous client. The fragment’s value becomes the motivation for Percy’s scheme: he tries to convince Peter and his wife Sharon to sell their piece so he can broker a sale and collect a finder’s fee. In the final scenes, the tech billionaire Michael Reese has already purchased the fragment directly from Peter, arranged for its restoration, and commissioned two duplicates—one for his own home and one for Peter’s—while the original is donated to Yale. The restored Annunciation then hangs in Peter’s dining room during the Thanksgiving dinner at which Percy finally takes a seat at the family table.

How the Fragment’s Meaning Changes

Initially, the fragment represents a literal piece of a family heirloom, severed by the great‑grandfather’s will to prevent primogeniture. For Percy, it becomes a potential source of wealth—a means to regain his former lifestyle. He sees it as a commodity to be exploited. For Peter and Sharon, the fragment is both a burden (taking up space, tied to outdated wiring) and a sentimental legacy. When Sharon learns of the potential payday, she allies with Percy to persuade her husband to sell. The fragment’s meaning shifts again when Reese outmaneuvers Percy: the painting is no longer a fragment but a whole again, restored and reunited (conceptually) through the duplicate. By the end, the fragment symbolizes not financial gain but the persistence of family bonds. Percy loses the commission but gains a permanent place at Thanksgiving, and the painting, now whole in spirit if not in original substance, hangs behind him as a backdrop to reconciliation.

Connections to Characters and Themes

Characters

Percy Skinner – The narrator and retired art expert who plots to profit from his nephew’s fragment. His appetite for money and status drives the plot, yet his failure leads to an unexpected reward: renewed family connection.
Peter – Percy’s nephew, a father of two, who inherits the largest fragment. He is initially reluctant to sell but is open to change when his family’s needs and the billionaire’s offer align.
Sharon – Peter’s wife, pragmatic and worn down by a crumbling house. She becomes Percy’s ally in the sale, but her motives are practical (renovations, a new baby) rather than greedy.
Lucas and Emma – Peter’s children. Lucas, a thoughtful boy, admires the painting and suggests the duplicate idea, which becomes the final arrangement.
Michael Reese – The tech billionaire who buys the fragment directly. His wealth and foresight outpace Percy’s scheming, symbolizing the new money that supplants old‑world tastes.

Themes

The fragment weaves together several themes from Table for Two:

Community and connection – The fragment eventually brings the family together. Despite Percy’s failed ambition, he is welcomed into the family circle at Thanksgiving. The painting becomes a shared object around which bonds are reaffirmed. Learn more about community and connection.
Authenticity and forgery – The fragment is an authentic Renaissance work, but its value is manipulated through Percy’s lies and the appearance of duplicates. The restored Annunciation raises questions about what constitutes the “real” painting when the original is donated and copies hang in homes. Explore authenticity and forgery.
Generosity vs. boundaries – Percy’s greed (he tries to double‑cross Sarkis and deceive his relatives) contrasts with Reese’s openhandedness. Reese’s generosity—allowing duplicates, funding restoration—shows that boundaries can be dissolved by magnanimity. Read about generosity vs. boundaries.
Grief and forgiveness – Although not overtly about grief, the fragment carries the weight of family history. Percy’s failure to profit leads to a form of forgiveness from his relatives, and he is allowed to stay at the table rather than being cast out. Reflect on grief and forgiveness.
Secrecy and joy – Percy’s scheme is conducted in secret (his alliance with Sharon, his unmailed letter to Sarkis). The joy of the final Thanksgiving party comes after the secret is exposed and abandoned. Delve into secrecy and joy.

Study Questions

Why does Percy Skinner believe he can profit from the DiDomenico Fragment, and what mistake does he make in his plan?
Answer: Percy thinks his knowledge of the art world and his familial relationship with Peter give him an advantage. He attempts to manipulate Sharon into selling by offering to find a buyer and then tries to renegotiate his commission with Sarkis. His mistake is underestimating Reese, who goes directly to Peter and Sharon on their regular night out, bypassing Percy entirely. Percy also fails to act quickly; he delays while Reese secures the deal.
How does the act of cutting the painting into fragments reflect the great‑grandfather’s values, and how does the novel critique those values?
Answer: Great‑grandfather Valentine Skinner was suspicious of primogeniture, so he divided the painting equally among his four sons to prevent any one heir from monopolizing the family legacy. The novel critiques this act by showing how fragmentation leads to loss and disconnection. Each descendant has only a piece of the whole, and the painting’s spiritual meaning is diminished. The ending, where Reese restores the painting and creates duplicates, suggests that unity and generosity can repair the damage caused by rigid equal distribution.
What role does the Annunciation subject play in the story’s themes?
Answer: The Annunciation depicts the moment before Mary learns she will bear the Son of God. DiDomenico painted her expression as childlike awe and courage. This image of receiving unexpected grace mirrors Percy’s own outcome: he fails to gain money but receives a seat at the family table. The subject also ties to the theme of acceptance and new beginnings, as the family welcomes a new baby (Ezekiel) and Percy is reintegrated.
In what way does the fragment’s restoration and duplication change its meaning for the family?
Answer: After restoration, the original fragment is no longer a severed part but a complete painting again (with pieces from other fragments presumably restored). The duplicates allow both Reese and Peter to own a version of the whole. For the family, the painting no longer symbolizes loss or pecuniary value; instead, it becomes a unifying object that can be shared. Lucas’s idea for duplicates ensures that the painting’s presence is not exclusive, reflecting a theme of generosity over ownership.

Conclusion: The Persistence of Appetite and the Reward of Failed Ambition

The DiDomenico Fragment is more than a plot device; it is a concrete symbol of how family legacy can be fractured yet eventually reconciled. Percy Skinner’s appetites—for fine dining, travel, and status—drive him to scheme, but he loses the financial prize. Nevertheless, his appetite for belonging is satisfied when he is invited to Thanksgiving. The novel suggests that some appetites persist even in old age, and that failure can sometimes yield a more valuable reward than success. The fragment, now restored and surrounded by duplicates, becomes a testament to the resilience of family bonds and the quiet joy of setting schemes aside.