when an artist feels strongly about a portrait

[yi-ing]

I have two questions regarding the following context:


1) Is it possible to use adverbs after copular verbs like feel?
2) is the "it" in the bold part dummy it?

"Why won't you exhibit Dorian Gray's portrait in an art gallery?' He looked at his friend and smiled. 'Please give me the real reason, now. Not the answer that you gave me before.'
'Harry, when an artist feels strongly about a portrait, it becomes a portrait of himself, not of the sitter. The artist paints the face and body of the sitter, but in fact he shows his own feelings. The reason why I won't exhibit this portrait is because I'm afraid it shows the secret of my heart."


Story Book (The picture of Dorian Gray)

 

[Lynxear]

I see nothing wrong with any of this writing. I am a bit confused as to who asked the first question. Is it his friend or "he"? However, with more writing before this point the confusion might disappear.

The "it" in the bold section refers to "portrait" as an antecedent.

A "dummy" it has no reference. These are some examples:

"To heck with it! I am not doing what he wants."

"It is not certain what caused the accident."

"What time is it?"

"Can you make it to the meeting today?"

 

[yi-ing]

Thanks for your help.
I found the following definition of "feel strongly":
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/feel-strongly-about

A "dummy" it has no reference.

What a point ! Thanks .