The Lost Painting: The Quest for a Caravaggio Masterpiece
1 journaler for this copy...
Rec'd via Bookmooch.com.
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Amazon.com
In 1992 a young art student uncovered a clue in an obscure Italian archive that led to the discovery of Caravaggio's original The Taking of the Christ, a painting that had been presumed lost for over 200 years. How this clue--a single entry in an old listing of family possessions--led to a residence in Ireland and the subsequent restoration of this Italian Baroque masterpiece is the subject of this brisk and enthralling detective story. The Lost Painting reads more like a historical novel than art history, as Harr smoothly weaves several narratives together to bring the story alive. Though he does not provide an in-depth examination of the painting itself--the book is not aimed specifically at art experts--Harr does include many details for lay readers about restoration, the various methods used to track artwork through history, how originals are distinguished from copies, and an inside view of the art world, past and present. He also discusses various forensic approaches, including X ray, infrared reflectography, chemical analysis of the paints and canvas, and other modern techniques. But most of the book is focused on more primitive methods, including dogged research through dusty archives and meticulous attention to detail.
This entertaining book boasts an engaging cast of characters, all of whom are inflicted with the "Caravaggio disease," including some of the foremost Caravaggio scholars in the world, persistent students, obsessive restorers, and most of all, the artist himself. Mercurial, supremely gifted, and prone to violence, Caravaggio lived like an outlaw and a pauper most of his troubled life. Yet even when he attained wealth and fame--and briefly, respectability--he was still hounded by the law (for murder) and numerous vengeful enemies. Harr does an admirable job of bringing the man alive in these pages while keeping his long-lost painting at the center of the action. --Shawn Carkonen
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Amazon.com
In 1992 a young art student uncovered a clue in an obscure Italian archive that led to the discovery of Caravaggio's original The Taking of the Christ, a painting that had been presumed lost for over 200 years. How this clue--a single entry in an old listing of family possessions--led to a residence in Ireland and the subsequent restoration of this Italian Baroque masterpiece is the subject of this brisk and enthralling detective story. The Lost Painting reads more like a historical novel than art history, as Harr smoothly weaves several narratives together to bring the story alive. Though he does not provide an in-depth examination of the painting itself--the book is not aimed specifically at art experts--Harr does include many details for lay readers about restoration, the various methods used to track artwork through history, how originals are distinguished from copies, and an inside view of the art world, past and present. He also discusses various forensic approaches, including X ray, infrared reflectography, chemical analysis of the paints and canvas, and other modern techniques. But most of the book is focused on more primitive methods, including dogged research through dusty archives and meticulous attention to detail.
This entertaining book boasts an engaging cast of characters, all of whom are inflicted with the "Caravaggio disease," including some of the foremost Caravaggio scholars in the world, persistent students, obsessive restorers, and most of all, the artist himself. Mercurial, supremely gifted, and prone to violence, Caravaggio lived like an outlaw and a pauper most of his troubled life. Yet even when he attained wealth and fame--and briefly, respectability--he was still hounded by the law (for murder) and numerous vengeful enemies. Harr does an admirable job of bringing the man alive in these pages while keeping his long-lost painting at the center of the action. --Shawn Carkonen
Rented the audio book from AllEars.
Finished audio CDs and returned today. The rental of the CDs coincided really well with my art history class; as I was listening to this book we were also studying Caravaggio. He's a pretty fascinating guy! Jonathan Harr did a really great job of making the 'quest' for the painting exciting, considering you're talking about people reading ancient letters and cleaning varnish off old canvas. I mean, Indiana Jones it's not. Some of the dialogue sounded really, really forced. People would describe other characters in such a way that it sounded...well, like a writer trying to describe a character indirectly. I didn't believe anyone would talk like that in real life, but maybe people are far more poetic and entertaining in Italian.
From a history standpoint, I think it's really dick-ish of Benedetti not to give Francesca more credit for finding the Caravaggio. Without her research, he would not have been able to verify the painting's authenticity, because even if it looked authentic he would not have the provenance to prove anything definitively. I think Harr may have been of the same opinion; indeed, perhaps most of the art world was, because no one seemed inclined to cast Benedetti in a positive light - at least not in the book.
Anyway, since I'm planning to go into an art history major and career path, I thought this book was fascinating and would definitely recommend it.
From a history standpoint, I think it's really dick-ish of Benedetti not to give Francesca more credit for finding the Caravaggio. Without her research, he would not have been able to verify the painting's authenticity, because even if it looked authentic he would not have the provenance to prove anything definitively. I think Harr may have been of the same opinion; indeed, perhaps most of the art world was, because no one seemed inclined to cast Benedetti in a positive light - at least not in the book.
Anyway, since I'm planning to go into an art history major and career path, I thought this book was fascinating and would definitely recommend it.
