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nicolaspingies's review against another edition
5.0
I don’t normally read non-fiction because I often don’t find a story to be gripping enough throughout. However, I thoroughly enjoyed Lewis’s investigation into the world’s last (or lost?) Leonardo.
The ins and outs of the arts industry was fascinating and Lewis did a superb job with his writing. As someone that doesn’t know much about the industry, I felt a bit overwhelmed when tackling this book but Lewis explains everything very well and I didn’t feel lost at all.
Loved this book from start to finish.
The ins and outs of the arts industry was fascinating and Lewis did a superb job with his writing. As someone that doesn’t know much about the industry, I felt a bit overwhelmed when tackling this book but Lewis explains everything very well and I didn’t feel lost at all.
Loved this book from start to finish.
lavinia_speaks's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
mugglemom's review against another edition
4.0
A fascinating glimpse into a world (classical art) that I know nothing about but find extremely interesting in for the fact that so many stupid people with money can be duped over and over and that they will continue to be duped.
Learning anything about Leonardo Di Vinci and how he can still affect art today is always interesting especially when a painting of his was sitting on someone's wall in the southern US, sold for less than $2k and is now worth $450 million - talk about a cinderella story! If that painting could talk!!
Highly recommend the audiobook!
Learning anything about Leonardo Di Vinci and how he can still affect art today is always interesting especially when a painting of his was sitting on someone's wall in the southern US, sold for less than $2k and is now worth $450 million - talk about a cinderella story! If that painting could talk!!
Highly recommend the audiobook!
kathywadolowski's review against another edition
5.0
If I were to sit down and think up a list of all the elements that would make up a perfect book for Kathy, this one would probably match it most closely. "The Last Leonardo" has ALL THE THINGS I love: art, history, and art history; a mystery with centuries worth of clues; thriller pacing; political motivations and shady dealings; complicated characters; fun facts; and so much more!
If this book were triple the size, I wouldn't have complained for a second; frankly, I just never wanted it to end. I did occasionally wish that the timeline didn't jump around so much, but at the same time this structure gave the book the pacing that made it so readable. My only other wish was that instead of being collected at the end, that the images were spread throughout the book in accordance with their mentions. But these are small non-issues in the context of a book I absolutely loved.
I am admittedly biased because I am an art history nerd and the proud recipient of a college degree in the subject, but first of all the plot of "The Last Leonardo" was something a fiction writer wishes they'd come up with—a mysterious painting that could be part of the oeuvre of one of the greatest and least prolific painters in history? Is it real? How can we ever be sure?
I also loved that the book explored broader questions surrounding the art world—what are the limits of conservation and restoration, and how much is too much? What are the ethics of pricing everyday people out of the world's greatest artwork? Is there a way to stop this trajectory? I passionately believe in the importance of making art accessible, and it seems Ben Lewis feels the same; this larger examination of the art world and its future elegantly connected the past with the present, and brought the relevance of art into a mainstream conversation about wealth, privilege, and status. I wish there were 1,000 books like this for me to read, but the fact that there aren't is part of what makes the book, and the art it centers, on so captivating.
If this book were triple the size, I wouldn't have complained for a second; frankly, I just never wanted it to end. I did occasionally wish that the timeline didn't jump around so much, but at the same time this structure gave the book the pacing that made it so readable. My only other wish was that instead of being collected at the end, that the images were spread throughout the book in accordance with their mentions. But these are small non-issues in the context of a book I absolutely loved.
I am admittedly biased because I am an art history nerd and the proud recipient of a college degree in the subject, but first of all the plot of "The Last Leonardo" was something a fiction writer wishes they'd come up with—a mysterious painting that could be part of the oeuvre of one of the greatest and least prolific painters in history? Is it real? How can we ever be sure?
I also loved that the book explored broader questions surrounding the art world—what are the limits of conservation and restoration, and how much is too much? What are the ethics of pricing everyday people out of the world's greatest artwork? Is there a way to stop this trajectory? I passionately believe in the importance of making art accessible, and it seems Ben Lewis feels the same; this larger examination of the art world and its future elegantly connected the past with the present, and brought the relevance of art into a mainstream conversation about wealth, privilege, and status. I wish there were 1,000 books like this for me to read, but the fact that there aren't is part of what makes the book, and the art it centers, on so captivating.
cryo_guy's review against another edition
3.0
This book was a bit wobbly in terms of what it was trying to do. But mostly it's just a chill book that gets into the story of this Salvator Mundi, its provenance, and the controversy of its more recent sale and attribution. More interesting (for me), it also goes over some art history around Leonardo and the general custom of art collecting. I was less impressed by the intrigue of various ultra-rich buyers and the art wheelers and dealers. An easy read if you are interested in the painting or Da Vinci more generally!
I'm pretty convinced its a workshop painting but as the book relates: even if it is, it has come to represent more than that. Ah the power of art!
I'm pretty convinced its a workshop painting but as the book relates: even if it is, it has come to represent more than that. Ah the power of art!
asharak's review against another edition
In a time when the world has less mystery to offer than ever before, The Last Leonardo brings the reader a new adventure that takes place simultaneously in the Renaissance past as well as recent years. The author chronicles the story of the mysterious Salvator Mundi painting of Christ by Leonardo da Vinci, quite possibly one of the greatest artists to have lived. From its mysterious origins to its reconstruction and subsequent sale, this painting has the potential to provide the world with one last thrill in the chase of fame and fortune. The reader will find themselves transported to artist’s workshops both present and past, salons of great patrons, auction halls, and private homes as this painting passes in and out of the pages of the past only to resurface in the 2000s. An interesting read for the art or art-history enthusiast.
caryambler's review against another edition
4.0
Won in a Goodreads giveaway. An interesting read for any one that loves art and the mystery of a lost painting.
jpbooks13's review against another edition
challenging
informative
medium-paced
3.0
Just a little too slow and wordy; this could’ve been a long form journal article instead of a book.
vitsa's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. This was interesting as I had not known the story of the Salvator Mundi or anything about the art world so I feel like it was quite enlightening.
mar's review against another edition
challenging
informative
medium-paced
5.0
my god, the history of this painting really is a tour through some of the most interesting and controversial parts of the art world. hole-filled provenances, competing scholars, subjective and/or overly optimistic authentications, questionable restorations, rich oligarchs, and the financial and political incentives that drive it all make for an honestly thrilling ride. and you get to learn about da vinci's life and art on the way :)