Explanation

The sentence indicates that despite being paid by wealthy patrons to paint their portraits, the painter depicted his subjects as he saw them. This fact indicates that the painter was not a “sycophant” or “adulator” in that he did not seek to flatter his patrons. Although both “hypocrite” and “coward” make some sense when inserted in the blank, neither produces a sentence similar in meaning to that produced by any other option. “Braggart” and “egotist” are similar in meaning, but neither fits the sentence’s focus on the painter’s honest depiction of his subjects. Thus the correct answer is sycophant (Choice C) and adulator (Choice D).
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There are several pieces of contextual information in this sentence.

First there's the word DESPITE, which suggests there will be some kind of opposite action later on in the sentense.
Next, WELL-TO-DO provides some possible context.

And, finally, there's some useful information AFTER the blank: he depicted the character of those he painted as he perceived it.
This last part begs the question "How else might the painter depict his well-to-do (wealthy) subjects?"
Well, some painters (in their quest to make enough money to eat ) might paint overly flattering depictions of their clients.

So, the word DESPITE suggests that, even though it might be in the painter's best interest to paint flattering portraits of his clients, he does NOT do this.

We have: the portrait painter was no________
What word(s) might fit here?
How about FLATTERER or perhaps TOADY

Check the answer choices....
The best fit are C and D

Cheers,
Brent
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Sycophant and adulator are the correct answers as both mean excessive flattery.

a slight hint from me as an amateur- focus on these words "despite ... commissions, ... no _____" --> for which they derive with such an interpretation that "though they can get more money from commission, they are not X"

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