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The Night Portrait: A Novel of World War II and da Vinci's Italy Kindle Edition

by Laura Morelli (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 2,949 ratings
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An exciting, dual-timeline historical novel about the creation of one of Leonardo da Vinci's most famous paintings, Portrait of a Lady with an Ermine, and the woman who fought to save it from Nazi destruction during World War II.

Milan, 1492: When a 16-year old beauty becomes the mistress of the Duke of Milan, she must fight for her place in the palace—and against those who want her out. Soon, she finds herself sitting before Leonardo da Vinci, who wants to ensure his own place in the ducal palace by painting his most ambitious portrait to date.

Munich, World War II: After a modest conservator unwittingly places a priceless Italian Renaissance portrait into the hands of a high-ranking Nazi leader, she risks her life to recover it, working with an American soldier, part of the famed Monuments Men team, to get it back.

Two women, separated by 500 years, are swept up in the tide of history as one painting stands at the center of their quests for their own destinies.

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  1. Print length
    460 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    William Morrow Paperbacks
  5. Publication date
    September 8, 2020
  6. File size
    4005 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
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From the Publisher

Crystal King, The Night Portrait

Jennifer Robson, The Night Portrait

The Night Portrait, Stephanie Storey

Looking for your next historical fiction from Laura Morelli?
The Night Portrait by Laura Morelli The Stolen Lady by Laura Morelli
The Night Portrait The Stolen Lady
Customer Reviews
4.4 out of 5 stars
2,949
4.3 out of 5 stars
1,354
Price $4.99 $9.99

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Night Portrait by Laura Morelli, which links Renaissance Italy and the crucible of World War Two in the most absorbing and innovative fashion, is also a novel of profound emotional resonance. A respected art historian, Morelli brings an exceptional depth of research and understanding to a story already made memorable by her beautiful prose. This is a truly original novel that has earned its place among my favorite works of historical fiction." — Jennifer Robson, bestselling author of The Gown

"In a brilliantly written narrative that deftly cuts back and forth between the 15th and the 20th centuries, Morelli brings to vivid life the attempts by a German art restorer and an American soldier to rescue works of art from the destruction of war. This is a compelling story of two heroic people, of the young Cecelia who posed for Da Vinci, the artist, and the times they lived in. I am left with an affirmation of the crucial importance of art to a culture and the power of individual action."
— Frances Mayes, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Under the Tuscan Sun and Women in Sunlight

"Laura Morelli’s The Night Portrait is simply a masterpiece. Morelli imagines a sophisticated plot, fleshes it out with historically significant characters, and spins it into a truly spectacular read. Rarely have I been so caught up in a book as I was with this unforgettable tale of bravery and love, hope and redemption. Fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale and Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See will delight in this epic novel." — Lori Nelson Spielman, international bestselling author

"Laura Morelli's The Night Portrait is a gorgeous and propulsive novel that brings to dramatic life the stories of Leonardo da Vinci, the subject of one of his most famous paintings, and the Monuments Men's quest to rescue that masterpiece from the Nazis during World War II. This stunning novel is a great masterpiece on its own, making you see old stories -- and old art -- in fresh, new ways. Perfect for any art lover or anyone who wants to understand why we all must care about the history of art." — Stephanie Storey, author of Oil and Marble and Raphael, Painter in Rome

"The Night Portrait is an astonishing, epic tale that seamlessly spans centuries of history and art, encompassing the beauty of the Renaissance and the horrible truths of Nazi Germany. Masterfully imagined and unforgettable, this riveting novel shows us the power of art to bring hope in a world of despair." — Crystal King, author of The Chef's Secret

"The Night Portrait is a compelling page turner at the same time as it is a mesmerizing meditation on legacy, guilt and complicity, the horrors of war, and most of all, the singular power of art. This well-researched and vivid novel is sure to thrill history buffs and art lovers alike."   — Alyssa Palombo, author of The Borgia Confessions

From the Author

After learning that Leonardo da Vinci's Lady with the Ermine once hung on the wall of a Nazi leader's childhood home in Bavaria, I plunged headlong into research. Truth is often stranger than fiction, but how on earth did that happen, I wondered? And what would it be like to be the person tasked with the job of stealing a painting by Leonardo da Vinci? The curiosity led me down rabbit hole after rabbit hole, until a story told in two timelines emerged clearly in my head. The characters of Edith and Cecilia suddenly seemed as real to me as my next-door neighbors. After that, the book seemed to write itself.
To join a free online course about the portraits of Leonardo da Vinci, and to access much more historical background, videos, images, research, and further resources related to World War II art theft and this book, visit  lauramorelli.com/NightPortrait.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08292YZ6Z
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Morrow Paperbacks; Illustrated edition (September 8, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 8, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4005 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 460 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 2,949 ratings

About the author

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Laura Morelli

Laura Morelli

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The first time I visited Venice as a wide-eyed teenager, I knew I was supposed to go home with Murano glass, but I had no idea why.

All I knew was that I was whisked to the famous “glass island” on an overcrowded, stinky boat. I waited behind two dozen tourists to pay an exorbitant price for a little glass fish—what a bewildering experience!

Still, it was the artistic traditions of the world that lured me to travel and inspired me to pursue art history. Today, my mission is to EDUCATE, ENTERTAIN, and INSPIRE with the stories of art history, both real and imagined.

Join me at lauramorelli.com to read a free story, take an online art history class, or to learn more about my work. Thank you!

***

LAURA MORELLI holds a Ph.D. in art history from Yale University and is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling historical novelist.

Laura has taught college students in the United States and Europe. She is a longtime trusted guide in the world of cultural travel and authentic shopping, known for her Authentic Arts guidebook series that includes MADE IN ITALY and other guides. She has been a columnist for National Geographic Traveler and Italy Magazine, and has also developed lessons for TED-Ed.

As a historical novelist, Laura's passion is bringing the stories of art history to life. Her debut novel, THE GONDOLA MAKER, was one of the first independently published novels to earn a starred review in Publishers Weekly; it went on to win an IPPY Award and Benjamin Franklin Award. THE PAINTER'S APPRENTICE was a finalist for the 2018 Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Awards grand prize, and was an Editor's Choice in the Historical Novels Review. THE GIANT won an IndieBrag Medallion. THE NIGHT PORTRAIT was a USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestseller and book club pick at Costco, Target, Veranda, and Hudson News. THE STOLEN LADY, Laura's latest historical novel, follows the Mona Lisa from 16th-century Florence to World War II France.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
2,949 global ratings
Very unique and compelling historical fiction novel!
5 Stars
Very unique and compelling historical fiction novel!
I loved this book! I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher and I'm so grateful! It’s a very unique historical fiction with storylines moving back and forth between 1490 and 1940’s. There is SO MUCH in this book! I’ll try to give you a snapshot:Milan, 1490: Leonardo Da Vinci is commissioned to paint a portrait of Cecilia Gallerani, the mistress of the Duke of Milan. “Lady with an Ermine” is one of only 4 portraits of women by Da Vinci.Munich, 1939: Edith is an art conservator in Germany and is sent by the Reich to acquire paintings and artifacts across German-occupied Poland for “safe-keeping”. Her heart says these works belong with their original owners and in museums but she knows her life depends on obeying orders.Front Lines 1944: Dominic is an American Soldier who is recruited to guide the way for The Monuments Men, a group of Allies whose mission is saving the valuable artifacts, and paintings that have been stolen by the Reich.All of these storylines weave and intersect beautifully in short compelling chapters. I especially loved when she uses the same sentence to end a chapter and begin the next one, for a different character and context. Brilliant!The author, Laura Morelli, is an art historian and educator with a Ph.D in art history. Her mission is to “Educate, entertain and inspire with the stories of art history, both real and imagined.” I will definitely be reading more of her work!I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts so I already had an interest in this subject matter but even if you don’t know anything about art, you will be drawn into the characters and the story. ALL THE STARS for The Night Portrait!
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Top reviews from the United States

EH
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Interesting Book
Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2023
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I truly enjoyed reading this book. It was very interesting and because I had read Robert Edsel's books The Monument Men and Saving Italy I was able to follow what was going on easily. The information about Da Vinci was very interesting. I highly recommend this book.
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ReaderRabbit
4.0 out of 5 stars A Worthy Read
Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2020
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Since I write books with dual timelines, I can testify to the difficulty and the joy of recreating two different periods in time. Laura Morelli has written an interesting tale of history that embroils none other than Leonardo da Vinci’s mesmerizing portrait of Cecelia Gallerani, Lady With an Ermine. Morelli envisions the painting's creation at the court of Ludovico Sforza the Duke of Milan by the maestro and then continues its haphazard journey when it’s confiscated in Poland by the Nazis. We read about the relationship between the Duke and Cecelia, who becomes his mistress, and what follows for Cecelia when her romantic liaison ends. We also cross Europe multiple times in the company of Edith Becker, a German art conservator working at the Alte Pinakothek Museum in Munich, who is conscripted to work with the Nazis in the theft of Europe’s art treasures. Contrasted to Edith’s experiences during the war under the thumb of the Nazis is another story about an American soldier and part-time artist, Dominic, who ends up working with the Monument Men whose mission it is to find the Nazi horde of stolen art and repatriate everything to the rightful owners.
The Night Portrait is a worthy historical read.
14 people found this helpful
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Cheryl
5.0 out of 5 stars WONDERFUL
Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2024
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What a WONDERFUL book. The characters are fabulous. I love the way Laura Morelli connects the Renaissance with WW11. I especially enjoyed Dominic’s story. As an Italian American it’s important to remember the discrimination our grand parents and great grandparents went through. I loved how the characters all crossed .
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nuttsa
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating
Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2023
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I didn't know what to expect with this book I was pleasantly surprised when I dove in I loved the writing and the new history i.was not aware of previously. Kept me engaged
One person found this helpful
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Cheryl Hand
4.0 out of 5 stars Educational and well written
Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2021
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I enjoyed this historical fiction read. This book read as if it was non-fiction and was well written. Slightly repetitive at some parts but most books I find are. Great story, art is precious - horrifying depictions of the concentration camps, but also a love story - I did like the back and forth from the 1400’s to the 1940’s. Each
character was well defined - I especially liked Leonardo DaVinci - he was quirky and I didn’t realize he tried to invent so many war machines...I only knew of him as a painter - which I imagine most people do. The character Cecilia was another favorite of mine and the ending was not only happy for me but pulled everything together the way a well written book should. I recommend - CH
3 people found this helpful
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Kelly Francis
3.0 out of 5 stars Great concept, mediocre execution (at best)
Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2021
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I really struggled to finish this book - but I did finish it, if only because I wanted to see what became of the painting, and even that was somewhat unsatisfying. The writing is very well done and the concept is definitely interesting. I think the real problem here is with the characters. Both Edith and Dominic are relatively bland personalities who never display any true agency. Interesting and difficult things are happening to them, but they more or less go along with it and never take any sort of action to change the course of events around them. Cecilia was a much more interesting figure, who was at least trying to shape her own future, but I had to slog through way too much of the other narratives to be satisfied with this book as a whole.
4 people found this helpful
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Kathy Rance
5.0 out of 5 stars If you like history....
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2023
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Great historic novel. A part of WWII you may not have heard before. Loved hearing about the Monuments Men. Enjoy
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A.Bennett
5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth reading this GREAT work by Laura Morelli
Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2020
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When I started reading this novel by Laura Morelli, I was not prepared for the enormous scope, historical importance and research the author has accomplished with this work. I have loved her other novels but this one surpasses all of them. I suppose because art is near and dear to my heart, especially the old masters and because I was raised in Europe, this novel was especially meaningful to me. What I particularly liked was that it is based on historical facts and so meticulously researched. Many of the characters were developed from actual people who were part of the Nazi regime looting millions of art works from many occupied countries.
I simply LOVED this novel and don’t often give a five star review, but if there were more stars available I would give it the highest rating.
Lest we never forget, the author has been able to masterfully bring to life how the Nazis stole the national pride of so many countries and murdered their citizens , all to amass the great works of art for themselves. I would not only recommend this work highly but I’d say if you like well written historical fiction, run out to buy this. You will not be sorry!
92 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Dolores
5.0 out of 5 stars Bringing History to Life
Reviewed in Canada on March 8, 2022
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Loved the way the characters’ stories intertwined and how Morelli made each one feel alive. Now to learn about the Monuments Men!
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Alain Prévost
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in France on August 23, 2021
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Ceci est un livre offert en cadeau à une amie après l'avoir lu moi-même. C'est un roman pour ceux et celles qui aiment l'art, en particulier la peinture, et l'Histoire. C'est passionnant, bien écrit dans un anglais simple. Bref une excellente lecture.
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Amazon Customer
1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing read about a fascinating topic.
Reviewed in Germany on February 13, 2021
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With such good reviews, I was very excited to read this book. I don’t have words for how disappointed I am with it. There were too many main characters and they were all rather bland and one dimensional. Although well researched, I really struggled to finish this book. I definitely would not compare it to the Tattooist of Auschwitz.
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hazelforde
5.0 out of 5 stars Italiam masters
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 29, 2020
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This fictional book centering on a famous portrait by Leonardo da Vinci was fascinating, taking the reader from the 15th century through to the 20th century and Hitlers wish to gather all the european art pieces in one place, namely Berlin and destroy many other places of historical importance. The authors passion for Italy came through inn the writing. A short tutorial by Laura Morelli on Da Vinci's portraits to follow the book is well worth a look.
One person found this helpful
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Bookworm
4.0 out of 5 stars The wickedness of the Nazis.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 22, 2023
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Nothing to dislike about this book. It demonstrates how ordinary Germans lived under the Nazis whether they liked it or not, and in most cases did not like it. It also shows how the Nazis stole property from the Jewish population and feathered their own nests with it.This book is worth reading.
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