“The Forgery of Venus” by Michael Gruber

Posted on by The Wandering Art Historian

I will be perfectly frank… I had no idea what I was getting myself into with this book!  What I thought was going to be an interesting crime novel about forgeries in the art world, turned into something wildly unexpected.  I don’t want to give anything away because part of the appeal of this book is knowing as little as possible before starting. What I thought is was simple crime drama set in the darker side of the art world was, in fact, a wild ride.

And while that very vague (and honestly, naïve, if I’m being honest) understanding of the book is essentially the basic plot, the story itself is insane!  For me, this book had elements of the films “Limitless” (2011) and “Somewhere in Time” (1980).  If you’re thinking to yourself, that’s odd… she just used two Science-Fiction films to describe this book, then I would reply, “Yes, I did, now draw your own conclusions!”

I’m leaving it at that.  If you read it… tell me what you think!

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I am writer and artist with a degree in art history who loves to talk to people about art. I have spent the last seven years building up The Wandering Art Historian “brand” as a way to connect with people who want to learn more about art. I give lectures and presentations and teach classes and host book club discussions with a creative or artistic connection. I also write about local artists, events, museums, and exhibitions to promote the arts in Central Florida. In 2021, I had a creative crisis. I struggled with authenticity in the art making process. I decided to make myself vulnerable and find out what a real, genuine Adrienne H. Lee artwork would look like. The process was challenging and emotional and revelatory. I learned that if necessity is the mother of invention, then authenticity is the mother of reinvention. I reinvented myself and learned an entirely new medium. The resulting artwork surprised me, and it will surprise you, too. Some people wish for a fairytale ending. For me, the fairy tale is only the beginning.