Bravo for Ponzi and Picasso!
346769
Ponzi and Picasso is a deftly written book and a must read page turner, which I could not put down! It was fascinating to learn so much about the art world from the artists and dealers first starting out in NYC with all their hopes and aspirations to the most successful ones at the top of their game and how they achieved their goals. A most intriguing fictional and informative plot!
4651847
This is a lavishly illustrated art book and an engaging written piece of scholarship. It gave me many insights into the artists prickly personality and what he was striving for in his art.

There were many surprises: like the contention that Czanne had a traditional idea of portraiture, even though his portraits were unlike anything that had been done.

The text follows Cezannes portraits from the early aggressive impasto through his famous constructive brushstrokes to his thinly painted, subtly nuanced surfaces. In addition to the great numbers of vibrant reproductions, there are dramatic close-ups of seminal portraits that invite the reader to examine Czanne s brushwork.

The chapters are mostly organized around a Cezannes subjects.  This becomes very interesting. We get a more objective view of Madame Cezanne, who has been unjustly vilified for being a sourpuss. We explore the drama that ensued when Cezanne painted Parisian intellectuals (he was far more comfortable painting family members and country people). We meet his favorite people, like the gardener who did so much more for Cezanne than garden. And we hear about the challenges of modeling for Cezanne, who required absolute stillness and sometimes over a hundred sittings.

There are short biographical sketches of Cezannes subjects, including himself.  Theres a good chronology, and even this section is rich in reproductions. The text is seeded with fun quotes from Cezanne that bring his complex character to life.

I cant get to the London exhibit of these portraits, so Im grateful to have the book.
3643352
This book is fascinating! The images are beautiful and intriguing, and the text is really interesting. I'm not a money collector, but I was drawn in by the stories behind the money. There is drama in these stories. And even humor! The breadth and depth of knowledge about history through the lens of money is deep and enjoyable to read. That is quite a combination!
2222350
The life of the scheming fraudster is by its very nature more interesting than that of the natural genius. Everyone loves an underdog, and Han van Meegeren was that most unusual of underdogs: a winner.

Wynne's book, described last weekend by [English Newspaper] The Observer as 'gripping and psychologically fascinating', seeks to do more than simply recount this most interesting of stories. It gets inside van Meegeren's head, and in doing so sheds new light on one of the most intriguing characters the art world has ever seen.

This is just a fascinating story, brilliantly told. Very highly recommended.
4462004
There is so much to say about this novel by Dominic Smith. It is extraordinary in its breath and scope as it spans the globe  and crosses centuries in effortless style. At the heart of the story is a painting by a 17th century artist, Sara De Vos. Her story is eminently interesting in itself as we learn of  her daily life and the restrictions placed on female artists in the Dutch Golden Age .  The tragic loss of her daughter is a catalyst for great dissolution as well as creativity. It is her grief inspired artwork which is now in the hands of Marty De Groot in 1957. The painting has been in the De Groot family for centuries. A theft ensues and this artwork is switched. A  forged copy is now on Marty's wall.. The novel follows the search to find the forger and here we move into many interesting twists and turns. We meet Ellie, a complex character in her 20's who is the forger. She is a wonderfully developed character as is Marty. The story line that develops from the interaction of these two characters is the stuff that great novels are made of. There is humor, heartbreak, redemption. and love all built into the mystery of the forged painting. As the novel switches time periods we are drawn back to the original artist's story which propels itself into the present .There is so much you will learn about the art process itself, about the materials, the forgery process, the auction business and the passions that drive great art. More than this, you will learn the human side of the art creator, art owner and art lover. It is a unique story set with  many conflicts and moral decisions. It  written with some of the most beautiful prose a reader could dream of.
4723213
A great overview of the art world from the gallerists point of view including the humanity of the dealers involved. (They are good people and taking HUGE chances.)

I have to say that what is passing for fine art circa 21st century is mostly anemic and simply an investment enterprise. If you are a would-be art collector looking for beautiful artwork or simply looking for an investment grade choice,start here. My premise in this review is that  "you can't fit one foot into two shoes."  so pick one or the other, investment or beauty, and view the book in this fashion. Thus you will be immensely rewarded either emotionally or monetarily.
3014382
This book is an incisive look into the machinations of Bernie Madoff, how he managed to get away with the Ponzi scam for so long and to dupe so many skilled business minds, the stock market, Wall Street and even his own two sons.  As a forensic handwriting analyst who had examined the letters between him and his daughter-in-law to determine the nature of Bernie Madoff, I was particularly impressed with Ms. Henriques'  inciteful and objectivity in describing the machinations of a man who was able to fool so many, for so much money - and for so long. This is a very well-chronicled account of a debacle that should have been caught and stopped by the stock exchange authorities long before it resulted in so much loss and tragedyl  Ms. Henriques did a thorough job of conveying the whys and wherefores.  A most worthy read!
4397159
One of the ways that we develop misconceptions is to believe what we see, without further inquiry.  This book provides a classic example of the folly of that approach.  Therese Humbert acted and spoke as though she was the  wealthiest and most influential woman in Europe, and people treated her  that way even though she was totally penniless.  She either spent borrowed  money (with annual interest rates as high as 60 percent) or the bills were  never paid.  Yet she was able to keep it all going for years, mortgaging  properties that didn't exist and making promises that she wouldn't and  couldn't keep.
Although I majored in French history of the 19th century  in college, I only ran into passing references to the affaire Humbert as a  student.  Having read this book, I can see why it has been deeply buried  away from mainstream French texts. This story is as embarrassing as the  Dreyfus Affair of a few years earlier, because it was only possible due to  support from members of the government (one of whom was Therese's uncle)  and the bar.  This details of this story are so amazing that the author  felt compelled to keep providing evidence that she hadn't made it all  up.
The story is all the more remarkable because it is connected to one  of the greatest painters of modern times, Matisse (through his wife, who  was the daughter of Therese's best friend and later housekeeper), and an  esteemed finance minister of the early days of the Third Republic (the same  uncle mentioned above).
Based on imaginary inheritances, the Humbert  family conspired to borrow tens of millions of francs, buy estates all over  France, purchase and operate a newspaper, and entertain the leading lights  of French society in their salon and at their dinner table.  Claiming to be  worth hundreds of millions of francs, they constantly lived one step ahead  of hostile creditors (who occasionally took a shot at them) while living  the life of billionaires.  It was all a hoax.
This was kept up for many  years, as is beautifully illustrated by the many photographs, cartoons, and  portraits of the people involved in the hoax.
When their bluff was  finally called, their lawyers were all disbarred.  Some creditors committed  suicide.  Therese and her husband were eventually sentenced and served five  years of solitary confinement, and were never heard from again after having  been released.  Further investigations and reporting on the story were  discouraged by the government, and the story fell into the shadows until  this book resurrected the tale.
The next time you assume that things  are as they seem, remember Therese Humbert.  You'll probably be better off  for the extra caution!
29671
The Heist is not only a fascinating tale with likable characters, suspense, and good drama, Daniel Silva adds lots of interesting facts. For example, each year thousands of very valuable paintings and other objects of art are stolen from museums, galleries, public institutions, and private homes. The estimated value of these thefts is as high as six billion dollars. These thefts rank fourth as the most lucrative illicit activity in the world behind drug trafficking, money laundering, and arms dealing.

 Gabriel Allon is in this novel only a year away from heading Israel's intelligence agency. He is blackmailed into helping Italy's head of art thefts into finding a multi-million dollar stolen painting. The head man is "a devious bastard..... That's why he's so good at his job." Allon needs to deal with fascinating thieves who acquire paintings for very rich clients that are not actually for sale, professionals who carry out commissioned thefts, as well as a Corsican-English killer, Keller, who appeared in Silva's prior novel.  Everything about Keller seemed to have been expressly designed for the purpose of killing. He was always successful in his murder missions except when he tried to kill Allon. Allon had to deal with people who were quick to resort to violence when they didn't get their way.  It all started for Allon when his friend discovered the mutilated body of Jack Bradshaw who was a middleman between thieves and buyers, a high-end fence.

 The missing painting was created by Caravaggio (c. 1571-1610) an actual famous - actually notorious - painter who Silva describes for us. He was an influential figure in the transition from late mannerism to baroque. He was also a wanted murderer.
3430718
Author Ken Perenyi takes us into his personal world of art forgery beginning with his stilted, seemingly rudderless teenage years.  The chance encounters with characters like Tony, Jimmy, Sonny, Mr. Jory, and Jose help shape his character and talent.  The beginning chapters are drug-laden and involve brushes with crime but as Perenyi's skills mature, he helps expose the world of auction houses, duped collectors, and the role of the art expert!

It is unlike any book on art you might read...not concentrating on specific paintings but on how they are forged with professional approaches.  I learned so much, I'd recommend this book.
3346163
I could not put it down.  The strength of this book is Van Meegeren himself.

The book races by trying to cover as much of the whirlwind as possible; the art, the forgery, the lies, the lifestyle, the marriages, the Nazis and the aftermath.  The story of a consummate con artist in every sense.  The book does a wonderful job covering certain details of art forgery for that time period (though I should state I am neither an art expert nor an art historian).

I wish the book went greater into depth regarding the wheeling of all the dealing, but perhaps it is lost in history.  Names of friends and rivals fly by and money and fake masterpieces change hands and countries eventually lose their governments.  You want to know more about these people, but the author feels the need to get it all in.

Even the aftermath is quite a spectacle.  The book makes you want to know more about Lt. Joseph Piller and (if records could be found) what the experts really thought when they discovered their own hoodwinking.  It is remarkable to see a man like Van Meegeren snake through every danger, coming out some sort of cultural hero, while he left behind him so many ruined reputations.

As the author appropriately recites (from "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance"): When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.  The author wrote down the facts too.
4952484
The author's view of art history, the role of art historians, and this painting is modern, refreshing, insightful, and human.  The book is a page-turner that will remain as a staple in my collection, once it returns to me from those I've lent it to.  It makes the reader want to see all the paintings mentioned, illustrated, and in the color plates in person!  It's expanded my bucket list by a lot.
1636993
I love sitting down with a good mystery, the kind you don't want to put down.  In Monet's Palette, I realized right away I was in the hands of a master of the genre.  The art world, from museum to studio, was beautifully drawn, pardon the pun.  Not only was it spine-tingling at times, it was also a grand adventure with friends.  Every character was three-dimensional and intriguing, and Rayna Hunt is definitely a "detective" I would follow from mystery to mystery, with art being a possible through-line.  I especially loved the way author Jean Sheldon delivered the intergenerational play of the art students.  I always feel that the best mystery is one that you feel a part of and have a hard time putting down.  This one was so much fun, I wanted to pull up an easel and join them!
1830931
B. A. Shapiro has crafted another fascinating tale that is historical, yet contemporary...commercial, yet literary. Like her "The Art Forger," this book tells the tales of two lives - one in the present, and one from the past. The Muralist studies the pre-WWII years from the eyes of a French Jew living in America, an artist working for the WPA. Her parents were killed when she was a child in an explosion, and all the family she has left are in France. And they are Jewish. And Hitler is coming.

When an art curator in 2015 discovers some 2 x 2 foot square, abstract paintings hidden behind the works of some of the well-known abstract artists from the late 1930s, she recognizes their similarities to two of her great aunt's paintings that hang in her apartment. An aunt who disappeared without a trace in 1940. She is compelled to search to for what happened to the elusive Alizee Benoir.

Told in two timelines, Shapiro's prose is eloquent, and the plot is gripping. It differs from The Art Forger because it is more firmly entrenched in the historical story than the present. A wonderful history lesson, passionately told.
4074362
I found The Billion Dollar BET to be both fascinating and intriguing.  It was especially riveting when Brett Pulley took the readers into the boardrooms and behind the scenes where many of the private deals were being made.  This book took me back to the Barbarians at the Gate where the players involved were very descriptive and the rapidily changing deals were exciting.  I thought the story of Robert Johnson was a very necessary story that had to be told.  The process in which Robert Johnson built his fortune was based on a very simple business premise; keep revenues up and cut costs.  His sense of business savvy as well as his excellent market-timing were some of the fundemental reasons for his success.  This book should be read by anyone interested in being successful in their careers and follow Robert Johnsons "Blue Print for Success".
4628193
By way of full disclosure, I have known Michelle Malsbury for several years.  We both used to write for an online web magazine and have conversed at length on the issues in our world, including the economic crisis of 2008 and Bernie Madoff.  I've already shared my thoughts with her on "The Swindler", so I'm not talking out of school here.

Because I am employed by a company directly affected by the economic crisis, I had a great interest in reading "The Swindler".  And in some ways, Michelle does not disappoint.  Skip Horowitz, the main character in this drama, is living the life of luxury thanks to a brokerage operation that is nothing more than a giant Ponzi scheme.  Bernie Madoff, who in real life is serving time in prison for defrauding investors out of billions of dollars, is Skip's hero, and he is bound and determined to go him one better.  Skip's fall is just as impressive as his rise, and in the end he is left with very little as he faces the prospect of spending the rest of his life in federal prison.

The story of "The Swindler" is compelling in light of real-life events.  Amidst a large cast of supporting characters, Skip Horowitz is wonderfully fleshed out and given humanity in the face of his onerous greed.  But it's a case of bad editing that truly hamstrings the story.  Numerous typos - the misspelling of "champagne", the beverage, as "Champaign", as in Ms. Malbury's hometown in Illinois - misuses of intellectual property, at least one unnecessary scene, and redundancy in narrative and dialogue detract from the story.  If you can overlook the numerous lead ingots left behind by the editing, there is some gold in this book.
4241385
I knew nothing about this era in Paris and was enthralled with this book from start to finish. I actually don't care for either Manet or Meissonier as artists, and I guess my one critique is that we don't get really any deep information on any other artists besides these two (the brief tangents into the lives of Cezanne, Monet and Courbet were such teases!!).  Other than that, I learned a ton and was truly entertained by this book. The amount of high drama going on in Paris during those couple decades is really unbelievable, and King does a really good job of drawing the connections between history and art. I loved it (read it twice already) and recommend it very highly.