The Forgery of Venus by Michael Gruber is a gripping thriller set in the art world, where a contemporary artist finds himself mysteriously flashing back into the life of master painter Velasquez. The book delves into themes of authenticity, memory, and art, while providing fascinating insights into the world of expensive art and art forgery. With a complex plot and multi-layered characters, the story unfolds in various locations such as Venice, New York, Rome, and Madrid, offering a compelling exploration of the art world through the eyes of expert forgers, private collectors, and art dealers.
Gruber's writing style in The Forgery of Venus is described as engaging, thought-provoking, and immersive. Readers praise the depth and nuance he brings to the narrative, as well as his ability to weave together elements of reality, art, and illusion into a page-turning tale that is both enjoyable and informative. The book is commended for its original concept, intriguing plot twists, and the way it seamlessly combines historical references with contemporary themes, creating an atmosphere that captivates readers from start to finish.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The content warnings for the book include themes related to mental illness and drug use.
From The Publisher:
Chaz Wilmot makes his living cranking out old-master parodies for ads and magazine covers. When he's offered a job restoring a Venetian palace fresco, he is at first, skeptical-he immediately sees it is more a forgery than a restoration. But he is soon seduced by the challenge and throws himself into the work, doing the job brilliantly.
This feat attracts the attention of Werner Krebs, a shady art dealer who becomes Wilmot's friend and patron. Wilmot is suddenly working with a fervor he hasn't felt in years, but without warning, he finds himself reliving moments from his past-not as memories but as if they are happening all over again. Soon, he believes he can travel back to the 17th century where he lived as the Spanish artist Diego Rodriguez de Silva Velazquez. Wilmot begins to fantasize that as Velazquez, he has created a masterpiece and when the painting actually turns up, he doesn't know if he painted it or if he imagined the whole thing.
Little by little, Wilmot enters a secret world of gangsters, greed and murder, with his mystery patron at the center of it all, either as the mastermind behind a plot to forge a painting worth hundred of millions, or as the man who will save Wilmot from obscurity and madness.
Miraculously inventive, this book cements Gruber's reputation as one of the most imaginative and gifted writers of our time.
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