53 pages • 1 hour read
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304
Novel • Fiction
New York City • 1950s
2016
Adult
18+ years
In The Last Painting of Sara de Vos by Dominic Smith, a 1950s art history PhD student, Eleanor Shipley, forges a painting by the 17th-century artist Sara de Vos, which unbeknownst to the owner, Marty de Groot, replaces the original stolen piece. Decades later, as an established art historian, Ellie faces potential exposure when both the original and her forgery surface at an exhibition she curates.
Mysterious
Contemplative
Bittersweet
Melancholic
Emotional
42,353 ratings
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Dominic Smith's The Last Painting of Sara De Vos is lauded for its rich storytelling and intricate narrative, weaving together historical and contemporary threads. Critics praise the prose, character depth, and atmospheric detail. Some find the pacing uneven, with occasional predictability. Overall, it's an engaging, thought-provoking read for art enthusiasts and historical fiction fans.
Readers who savor art history, mystery, and literary fiction in the vein of Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch or Tracy Chevalier's Girl with a Pearl Earring will be captivated by Dominic Smith's The Last Painting of Sara De Vos. This novel intertwines historical and contemporary narratives, appealing to those who enjoy rich storytelling and intricate detail.
42,353 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Eleanor “Ellie” Shipley
An Australian art historian who confronts feelings of being an outsider in the art world and becomes intricately involved in a mystery surrounding a famous painting.
Martijn “Marty” de Groot
A wealthy lawyer of Dutch descent in New York who becomes entangled in a scandal involving art forgery and seeks reconciliation later in life.
Kathrijn de Vos
The young daughter of Sara de Vos, whose fate deeply impacts her mother's personal and professional journey.
Rachel de Groot
Marty's wife during the 1950s, who experiences personal struggles and changes following the theft of a significant painting.
Barent de Vos
Sara’s husband and Kathrijn’s father, whose life takes a downward turn after a devastating family event.
Gabriel Lodge
A character who instigates an art forgery scheme for financial gain, representing the commodification of art.
Meredith Hornsby
An art professor and advisor who plays a role in guiding Ellie through her academic and professional path.
Pieter de Groot
A Dutch shipwright fascinated by the emotional power of a particular painting, which becomes significant to his family's legacy.
Griet
A character whose personal loss during a plague resonates with Sara and influences her artistic expression.
Hendrik Klapp
An art courier whose interactions with Ellie mark a turning point in her relationship with her work and legacy.
304
Novel • Fiction
New York City • 1950s
2016
Adult
18+ years
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