Ettie is the quiet, 27-year-old niece of the famous painter Edouard Tartuffe. Having lived at the isolated Provence farmhouse her entire life, she manages the domestic duties and acts as a caretaker for her volatile uncle. She possesses a rich inner world of observation, remaining largely invisible to outsiders while maintaining her own private routines and a deep understanding of art.

Known as the "Master of Light," Tartuffe is a celebrated but highly reclusive painter in his sixties. He lives in self-imposed exile in Provence, demanding absolute control over his environment and the people within it. His volatile temper and strict rules dictate the daily rhythm of the farmhouse, where he obsesses over his artistic process.

Joseph is a young English journalist and former art student who travels to France hoping to write a definitive profile on his idol, Edouard Tartuffe. Having left art school following the death of his mother, he now works for an art magazine. He becomes a captive audience at the farmhouse, coerced into modeling for Tartuffe while trying to understand the household's strange dynamics.

Rupert is Joseph's older brother, a former soldier whose wartime experiences left him hospitalized with severe psychological trauma. Before the war, he was a vivid and lively presence who carried a copy of classical literature to the trenches. His current condition profoundly affects Joseph's worldview and anti-war beliefs.

Peggy is a wealthy, independent American art collector who brings a modern, transatlantic perspective to the isolated farmhouse. Outspoken and confident, she openly challenges the patriarchal norms of the art establishment and questions the historical exclusion of female painters during a tense meal with Tartuffe.

Raimondi is Tartuffe's slick and theatrical Parisian art dealer. He is deeply invested in maintaining the profitable myth of Tartuffe's reclusive genius, prioritizing business and publicity over personal boundaries. He treats Ettie with dismissive contempt while viewing Joseph as a useful tool for generating sales.

Gabrielle is Ettie's mother and Tartuffe's sister. She lived at the isolated Provence farmhouse during Ettie's early childhood before leaving for New York, where she eventually died. Her past actions and departure cast a long shadow over the farmhouse, shaping Tartuffe's paranoia and Ettie's sense of abandonment.

Harry is the editor of a new art magazine who hired Joseph after his departure from art school. He pushes Joseph to deliver an intimate, sensational profile of Tartuffe, frequently sending letters to the farmhouse to demand updates on the piece.

Flora is Joseph and Rupert's sister, who remains in England. She corresponds with Joseph, providing him with updates on their father and the difficult realities of Rupert's hospitalization and treatment.

Paul Cézanne is a famous real-world artist who once served as a mentor and close friend to Edouard Tartuffe. A rumored, infamous feud between the two men remains a subject of intense speculation in the art world, prompting Joseph's journalistic curiosity.

Amir is an Algerian soldier who lost an ear in battle and was treated at a convent hospital. During his recovery, he opened Ettie's mind to a world beyond her small village, sharing stories that offered her a glimpse of hope and freedom outside the farmhouse.

Marguerite is a local girl who briefly befriended a young Ettie after Gabrielle's departure. Her visits to the farmhouse ended abruptly when Tartuffe aggressively chased her away, ensuring Ettie's total social isolation.

Lafayette is a villager who manufactures the wooden frames for Tartuffe's paintings. He possesses a nosy disposition and attempts to extract gossip from Ettie regarding the foreign journalist staying at the farmhouse.

Sabine is a local woman who attends a village festival and dance. When Joseph is left waiting alone by his intended companion, she repeatedly asks him to dance, eventually pulling him into an uncomfortable interaction.