Told with consummate skill by the writer of the bestselling, award-winning A Civil Action, The Lost Painting is a remarkable synthesis of history and detective story. An Italian village on a hilltop near the Adriatic coast, a decaying palazzo facing the sea, and in the basement, cobwebbed and dusty, lit by a single bulb, an archive unknown to scholars. Here, a young graduate student from Rome, … young graduate student from Rome, Francesca Cappelletti, makes a discovery that inspires a search for a work of art of incalculable value, a painting lost for almost two centuries.
The artist was Caravaggio, a master of the Italian Baroque. He was a genius, a revolutionary painter, and a man beset by personal demons. Four hundred years ago, he drank and brawled in the taverns and streets of Rome, moving from one rooming house to another, constantly in and out of jail, all the while painting works of transcendent emotional and visual power. He rose from obscurity to fame and wealth, but success didn’t alter his violent temperament. His rage finally led him to commit murder, forcing him to flee Rome a hunted man. He died young, alone, and under strange circumstances.
Caravaggio scholars estimate that between sixty and eighty of his works are in existence today. Many others–no one knows the precise number–have been lost to time. Somewhere, surely, a masterpiece lies forgotten in a storeroom, or in a small parish church, or hanging above a fireplace, mistaken for a mere copy.
Prizewinning author Jonathan Harr embarks on an spellbinding journey to discover the long-lost painting known as The Taking of Christ–its mysterious fate and the circumstances of its disappearance have captivated Caravaggio devotees for years. After Francesca Cappelletti stumbles across a clue in that dusty archive, she tracks the painting across a continent and hundreds of years of history. But it is not until she meets Sergio Benedetti, an art restorer working in Ireland, that she finally manages to assemble all the pieces of the puzzle.
Praise for The Lost Painting
“Jonathan Harr has gone to the trouble of writing what will probably be a bestseller . . . rich and wonderful. . . . In truth, the book reads better than a thriller. . . . If you’re a sucker for Rome, and for dusk . . . [you’ll] enjoy Harr’s more clearly reported details about life in the city.”—The New York Times Book Review
“Jonathan Harr has taken the story of the lost painting, and woven from it a deeply moving narrative about history, art and taste—and about the greed, envy, covetousness and professional jealousy of people who fall prey to obsession. It is as perfect a work of narrative nonfiction as you could ever hope to read.”—The Economist
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Non-fiction written as a novel. Very interesting story involving art history, research, and restoration. Specifically about a lost Carravagio. A quick read and very informative.
Read IT: I have read this book 3 times & I just purchased it on bookbub. I loaned my hardback to a friend & it was never returned.
The story is of the finding & authenticating of a lost Caravaggio. It is based on a true story & it is electrifying.i viewed the painting in Dublin & I sat with my family for 30 minutes as it mezmerized all of us.
This is a wonderful book that reads more like a detective novel than art history non-fiction. Jonathan Harr tells a terrific story of the investigation and ultimate discovery of a lost Caravaggio masterpiece. What makes the story so interesting is the fascinating life of the artist, a man who’s genius and borderline mania (or possibly heavy metal …
As an artist and art history major in college, I always had an interest in Caravaggio’s paintings. I found this true story very interesting and engaging, and it shows the level of research needed in investigations of unproven stories.
I was impressed and amazed at how the scholars were able to track down the history and ownership of a painting for over 400 years. Also amazing that people kept such meticulous records of their purchases. The story of the painting, interspersed with the life of Caravaggio and his benefactors, was interesting to follow, as was the details of its …
Very interesting background info for people interested in art. I enjoyed the details about art history research, art restoration, and how experts authenticate paintings. However, the focus on the personal lives of some of the characters seemed extraneous to the narrative and seemed distracting. The ending was abrupt, as if the writer had just …
I couldn’t put it down. Great read.
Factual and written to keep one engaged in the search for and authentication of a lost work of art.
Entertaining and educational with a good plot. I found myself googling almost every painting referenced in the book and rediscovering this art genre.
Art lovers will find this a smart, interesting story chock full of information about art restoration, how paintings are ascribed to an artist in the absence if a signature and it’s a good mystery tale too
Read years ago. Memorable.
If anyone is interested in history and perhaps art, this has it. The beginning was a bit tedious, but I like research. The end was very good.
This is a wonderful book starting with the discovery of an archive by a wealthy Roman that detailed pictures he had commissioned by the Baroque painter Caravaggio. The painting that is the subject of this book disappeared a couple of centuries ago and seemed to be lost forever. The novel tracks the sleuthing that resulted in the painting’s …