The Masterpiece

The Masterpiece is a 2018 novel by Francine Rivers, an award-winning writer of Christian romances and historical fiction. Shortly after its release, The Masterpiece earned a spot on bestseller lists at The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly. It follows the story of a business relationship between an artist, Roman Velasco, and his assistant, Grace Moore, which blossoms into a tentative romance as they navigate past trauma and present heartbreak. Grace, a Christian, tries to live out her faith amid great personal difficulties, and Roman, who is initially a jaded skeptic toward matters of faith, gradually encounters the transforming presence of Christ.

This study guide uses the original 2018 edition from Tyndale House Publishers.

Content Warning: The source text and this guide include references to addiction, abuse, domestic violence, death by suicide, and the neglect and exploitation of children.

Plot Summary

Grace Moore is a recently divorced young woman with a baby son. She is looking for a job in the Los Angeles area. A temp agency sets her up as an assistant to an artist named Roman Velasco, who is known for both his canvas paintings and his commissioned murals. What is unknown to the public, however, is that Roman is also the graffiti artist known as “the Bird”; he spray-paints his illegal artwork around the city by night.