The Forgery of Venus” is the story of Chaz Wilmot, a brilliant painter who can paint like the old Masters, and nobody in the artworld cares. Chaz is recruited into a psychological study investigating if taking a hallucinogen promotes creativity. Apparently it does. But, it sends Chaz back through time, first to his own childhood, then into the childhood of the famous Spanish court painter Diego Velázquez (1599-1660).
Soon Chaz paints even more vividly, but he’s both in jeopardy of losing his mind and in danger of being recruited by some very rich and nasty characters determined to use him to forge famous paintings.
After reading this book, I was hooked and started reading about art forgery and theft (which I have previously blogged about). I decided to just list the books I recommend on the subject.
PROVENANCE, HOW A CON MAN AND A FORGER REWROTE THE HISTORY OF MODERN ART
PRICELESS: WHO I WENT UNDERCOVER TO RESCUE THE WORLD’S STOLEN TREASURE
Some other books that deal with art, but not necessarily about forgery or theft that were very entertaining:
Books I have to be read
A previous blog I wrote titled Some Facts About Art Theft and Vermeer and Why The Scream Cannot Be Forged. may explain why I love these books so much!
Do you have any suggestions? I’d love to hear!