What a pronoun refers to

The protagonist, Philip, who was born with a club foot, moved in with his uncle Mr. Carey, the Vicar of Blackstable after his mother's death.
He came to London to work as an apprentice clerk for the accountant Mr. Carter for five years.
He want to abandon the articles for the accountant, go to Paris to become a painter.

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On Tuesdays and Fridays masters spent the morning at Amitrano's, criticising the work done.
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Tuesday was the day upon which Michel Rollin came to Amitrano's.
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Nor did he conceal his contempt for the students whose work he examined. By them he was hated and feared; the
women by his brutal sarcasm he reduced often to tears, which again aroused his ridicule; and he remained at the studio, notwithstanding the protests of those who suffered too bitterly from his attacks, because there could be no doubt that he was one of the best masters in Paris. Sometimes the old model who kept the school ventured to remonstrate with him, but his expostulations quickly gave way before the violent insolence of the painter to abject apologies.
[Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham]
I'd like to know if "his" refers to "the old model."
Thank you in advance for your help.