Maggy Lunel arrives in Paris completely broke. She becomes an art model and attracts the attention of Picassoesque painter Julien Mistral, who places his work above everything. Their paths diverge as Mistral's art catches the eye of a rich American woman who becomes his patroness and eventually his wife. During the war, Mistral collaborates with the Nazis to save his career, a decision that will come back to haunt him. Maggy has a daughter named Teddy who grows up and falls in love with Mistral.