Svetlana's Reads and Views

Name of Book: Botticelli's Bastard Author: Stephen Maitland-Lewis ISBN: 978-0-9832596 Publisher: Glyd-Evans Press Type of book: Art restoration, Italy, modern times, stealing art, France, marriage, widower, supernatural elements, Holocaust, forgiveness, history Year it was published: 2014 Summary: Art restorer Giovanni Fabrizzi is haunted by an unsigned renaissance portrait. Obsessed to learn the truth of its origin, he becomes increasingly convinced the painting could be the work of one of history's greatest artists, which if true, would catapult its value to the stratosphere. But in learning of the painting's past, he is faced with a dilemma. He believes the portrait was stolen during the greatest art heist in history -- the Nazi plunder of European artwork. If true and a surviving relative of the painting's rightful owner were still alive, Giovanni, in all good conscience, would have to give up the potential masterpiece. His obsession with the po...