The Art Detective
Adventures of an Antiques Roadshow Appraiser
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- $15.99
Publisher Description
The art world has never seemed quite so treacherous, so beguiling- and so much fun
What separates a masterpiece from a piece of junk? Thanks to the BBC's Antiques Roadshow and its American spin-off, everyone is searching garage sales and hunting online for hidden gems, wondering whether their attics contain trash or treasures. In The Art Detective, Philip Mould, one of the world's foremost authorities on British portraiture and an irreverent and delightful expert for the Roadshow, serves up his secrets and his best stories, blending the technical details of art detection and restoration with juicy tales peopled by a range of eccentric collectors, scholars, forgers, and opportunists.
Peppered with practical advice, each chapter focuses on one particular painting and the mystery that surrounds it. Mould is our trusty detective, tracking down clues, uncovering human foibles and following hunches until the truth is revealed. Mould is known for his ability to crack the toughest puzzles and whether he's writing about a fake Norman Rockwell, a hidden Rembrandt, or a lost Gainsborough, he brings both the art and the adventure to life. The Art Detective is memoir, mystery, art history, and brilliant yarn all rolled into one.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Art historian Mould provides an accessible introduction to the world of art dealing, inviting the listener along as he tracks down the provenance of paintings including a Thomas Gainsborough. His vignettes are fascinating, if slightly rambling, and they are deftly delivered by James Langton, whose crisp English accent coupled with an assertive, authoritative handling of the material proves delightful. He enlivens the more drab or technical sections and provides smooth transitions from English to American accents. A Viking hardcover.
