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The Art Forger

Barbara A. Shapiro

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Sep 08, 2013 Marcia rated it really liked it

Could not put this book down! It was a fascinating story about one of my favorite women, Isabella Stewart Gardner, and her fabulous museum. Centering on the famous 1990 art theft, the novel is about a struggling artist who takes on the task of forging a copy of one of the stolen works (although in real life this painting does not actually exist) and the consequences of that action. Fast paced, suspenseful, and loaded with information about art and the art world, painting techniques and details o ...more

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Oct 29, 2013 Kathleen Valentine rated it really liked it

I loved this book but I have to qualify it a little by saying I was an art major in college and a lot of the long descriptions of technique, of the artists' styles and work, and of history here in Boston was stuff I just ca't get enough of. That being said, I thought some of the characters were rather stereotypical and there were a few plot twists that I found to be quite a stretch.

Still, if you love art, if you love the Gardner Museum, and you love Boston, you'll enjoy this as much as I did. ...more

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Mar 18, 2013 Georgia Carvalho rated it liked it

Overall, I enjoyed the book, especially the technical aspects and the discussion of forgery and historical forgers. What I could not understand was the lack of ethical behavior on Claire's part, not once, but repeatedly. I feel like there should have been more consequences to her behavior. ...more

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