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jrmarr's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this book. Really snuck up on me: all of a sudden I was swept into the stories and enthralled. Lovely characters and stunning descriptions of art and the making of art. Beautiful book. I'd give this 4.5 stars if I could.
hiitssimone's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
beebeewin's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The premise of this novel and the shifting into different time periods was probably my favorite part of the book. As someone who briefly studied art history it was fun to have a fiction novel that delved into that realm more, especially with a focus on female artists of the Dutch Renaissance (one of my favorite art epochs). I found myself pulled in by the storylines in all the different time periods and eager to continue reading.
The rating doesn't reflect badly on this book, simply that it isn't a new favorite. I definitely was engaged and pleased with it. I loved the characters and the peak into the art world including forgery, private collection ownership, and creation of art. I wish these paintings were real so I could see them in real life, as they sound powerful, sad, and arresting. I think in the end the characters of the more modern periods were a little less interesting than Sara de Vos and the undercurrent of the unacknowledged sexual assault was a weird way to end the book . Those where it just fell a little flat as I wish we could have just gone deeper on characterization.
I would recommend this book to everyone and especially those who like fiction that feels more real life and historical. It won't become one of my favorites of all time but it was definitely an enjoyable read that made me interested in reading a bit more about the Dutch Renaissance female artists.
The rating doesn't reflect badly on this book, simply that it isn't a new favorite. I definitely was engaged and pleased with it. I loved the characters and the peak into the art world including forgery, private collection ownership, and creation of art. I wish these paintings were real so I could see them in real life, as they sound powerful, sad, and arresting. I think in the end the characters of the more modern periods were a little less interesting than Sara de Vos and
I would recommend this book to everyone and especially those who like fiction that feels more real life and historical. It won't become one of my favorites of all time but it was definitely an enjoyable read that made me interested in reading a bit more about the Dutch Renaissance female artists.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Child death
motherofladybirds's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed the three time periods which were very well handled to create suspense. I liked the way things came together. I found the very last chapter a bit superfluous.
rainbowbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
This book grabs the reader and does not release. Page after page you will find yourself drawn to the life of Sara de Vos, the owner of her last painting, and the grad student obsessed with her life.
jhbandcats's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I confess I found the cover so unappealing that I was prepared to hate the book. I did not hate the book; I loved the book.
The writing is beautiful and descriptive in a way that lets you feel the biting cold of skating in a Dutch winter or the heat and humidity in a cheap Brooklyn apartment. Perhaps because the book is about painters and paintings, the author has worked especially hard on giving his words a painterly character. I felt a part of the story, whether in the Netherlands in the 1600s, in New York in the 1950s, or in Sydney, Australia, at the turn of the millennium.
I loved the characters, both those who gradually proved themselves unattractive or those who initially appeared unpleasant but who grew on me. I loved learning about the art worlds 350 years apart, the details of painting, the smells of paints and the work of how those paints were made. I especially loved the dual stories, the way the characters were fleshed out.
A beautiful work of historical fiction that includes some recent history as well.
The writing is beautiful and descriptive in a way that lets you feel the biting cold of skating in a Dutch winter or the heat and humidity in a cheap Brooklyn apartment. Perhaps because the book is about painters and paintings, the author has worked especially hard on giving his words a painterly character. I felt a part of the story, whether in the Netherlands in the 1600s, in New York in the 1950s, or in Sydney, Australia, at the turn of the millennium.
I loved the characters, both those who gradually proved themselves unattractive or those who initially appeared unpleasant but who grew on me. I loved learning about the art worlds 350 years apart, the details of painting, the smells of paints and the work of how those paints were made. I especially loved the dual stories, the way the characters were fleshed out.
A beautiful work of historical fiction that includes some recent history as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Child death, Classism, Abandonment, Grief, Infertility, and Sexism
tartcherry's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.5
chrisl1224's review against another edition
5.0
You know when you’re sitting by the window and it’s raining outside and you’re cozily wrapped in a blanket with nothing pressing to do? That’s the feeling of this book, at least to me. Beautiful descriptions and thoughtful detail, and a truly unique story. What a treat.
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review against another edition
5.0
This is a marvelous book, a wonderful read. Novels about great painters have been attracting readers since, oh, let's say "Girl with a Pearl Earring." Some of these novels work better than others but "The Last Painting of Sara de Vos" works in all ways and is a pleasure from start to finish.
Sara de Vos is not a famous painter, but she was the first woman to be admitted to the painters guild. Women during the Dutch Golden Age painted still life but Sara also painted scenes with haunting characters, such as "At the Edge of the Wood," the painting this novel is all about. Sara and her husband are both painters, and when the novel opens they have fallen afoul of the Guild's many rules and are struggling to right their careers and livelihoods.
The second branch of the story is set in the 1950s when a young art restorer is hired to forge a copy of the painting, which hangs in the Manhattan home of a Dutch American banker whose family has owned the painting for 400 years.
And then, it's 2000 and both the original and the forgery will come together at an exhibition in Sydney with Ellie, the forger, now a respected art history professor, speaking about Sara's work.
Come on, who could resist ANY of this? Each thread of the story is completely developed and the characters are rich and believable. You learn a lot about the Dutch Golden Age of painting, Rembrandt, Franz Hals, their use of light, the love of Dutch people of all classes for painting. This novel is a treat and a pleasure.
Sara de Vos is not a famous painter, but she was the first woman to be admitted to the painters guild. Women during the Dutch Golden Age painted still life but Sara also painted scenes with haunting characters, such as "At the Edge of the Wood," the painting this novel is all about. Sara and her husband are both painters, and when the novel opens they have fallen afoul of the Guild's many rules and are struggling to right their careers and livelihoods.
The second branch of the story is set in the 1950s when a young art restorer is hired to forge a copy of the painting, which hangs in the Manhattan home of a Dutch American banker whose family has owned the painting for 400 years.
And then, it's 2000 and both the original and the forgery will come together at an exhibition in Sydney with Ellie, the forger, now a respected art history professor, speaking about Sara's work.
Come on, who could resist ANY of this? Each thread of the story is completely developed and the characters are rich and believable. You learn a lot about the Dutch Golden Age of painting, Rembrandt, Franz Hals, their use of light, the love of Dutch people of all classes for painting. This novel is a treat and a pleasure.
pixiebrown's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5