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

by Laura Morelli, Christa Lewis (Read by), P. J. Ochlan (Read by), Reba Buhr (Read by), Paul Woodson (Read by)

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781799940838
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	09/08/2020
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 5.70(h) x (d)

About the Author

Christa Lewis, winner of several AudioFile Earphones Awards, is a classically trained actress and a graduate of Boston University’s four-year conservatory training program. She has worked full time at the microphone since getting her start as a newsreader for an international news broadcaster and now narrates audiobooks full time.

P. J. Ochlan is an Audie Award–winning, multiple Earphones Award–winning, and Voice Arts Award–nominated narrator of hundreds of audiobooks. His acting career spans more than thirty years and has also included Broadway, the NY Shakespeare Festival under Joseph Papp, critically acclaimed feature films, and television series regular roles.

Laura Morelli holds a PhD in art history from Yale University and has taught at the college level in the United States and in Italy. She is a TED-Ed educator and a columnist for National Geographic Traveler and Italy Magazine. Her debut novel, The Gondola Maker, garnered IPPY and Benjamin Franklin awards. 

Reba Buhr is a performer based in Los Angeles, CA, specializing in acting, hosting, and voiceover work. Reba is best known for her work as host of Disney Channel’s Disney 365. As a voice artist she can be heard as the voice of Clovis in Zagtoon’s Zak Storm: Super Pirate, Numi Tahiro in Knights of Sidonia, Ponzu in Hunter × Hunter, Shan Shan in Mattel’s BattleClaw, as well as national commercials. Other work includes her self-produced online talk show LittleBit Tipsy and several years as Princess Jasmine in Aladdin! A Musical Spectacular at Disney’s California Adventure. Reba is a Groundlingstrained improvisor, a classically trained vocalist, and a Jedi Knight.

Paul Woodson has lived in the US and England, received a BFA in acting at Boston University, and has been acting and singing since the age of thirteen. He has recorded over one hundred audiobooks, many in the historical romance and Highlander genres, as well as fantasy novels, thrillers, classics, and young adult titles.

Editorial Reviews

"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 Publisher

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

09/01/2020

Morelli's (The Giant) novel revolves around four characters in two time periods: Leonardo da Vinci, Cecilia Gallerani, Edith Becker, and Dominic Bonelli. In the 1490s, Leonardo da Vinci is tasked with painting the portrait of the Duke of Milan's mistress, Cecilia, a young woman intent on being more than what society says she can be. Meanwhile in the 1940s, Edith, a German art conservator, attempts to use her position to return Nazi-stolen art to its rightful owners, and American soldier Dominic works his way across Europe, trying to find the looted works. The stories connect via Leonardo's painting, Lady with an Ermine. VERDICT Morelli's wonderfully intertwined, quiet tale set during unquiet times reveals truths about the human character and the will to survive. The well-balanced historical fiction on the plight of stolen artwork during World War II moves smoothly between the centuries, focusing on individuals and their own motivations, fears, and ambitions. The theme of survival appears often in the narrative, connected to both people and objects alike and creating another layer for readers to enjoy.—Laura Hiatt, Fort Collins, CO

Library Journal

In alternating chapters, four talented narrators provide dramatically different performances as they recount the story of a portrait painted in 1492 and its subsequent theft and recovery during WWII. Reba Buhr captures the youthful innocence and naïveté of Cecilia, mistress of the Duke of Milan, and also brings many other supporting characters from that period to life. Christa Lewis gives German accents and serious tones to Edith, a German art conservator, and her museum colleagues as well as to soldiers. P.J. Ochlan captures the tough-guy attitudes of Dominic and his fellow American soldiers who are tasked with protecting the legendary monuments men in their quest to recover art stolen by the Nazis. And lastly, Paul Woodson gives Leonardo da Vinci a scholarly and somber air as he describes his commission to paint Cecilia, “Lady with an Ermine.” J.E.S. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

OCTOBER 2020 - AudioFile

In alternating chapters, four talented narrators provide dramatically different performances as they recount the story of a portrait painted in 1492 and its subsequent theft and recovery during WWII. Reba Buhr captures the youthful innocence and naïveté of Cecilia, mistress of the Duke of Milan, and also brings many other supporting characters from that period to life. Christa Lewis gives German accents and serious tones to Edith, a German art conservator, and her museum colleagues as well as to soldiers. P.J. Ochlan captures the tough-guy attitudes of Dominic and his fellow American soldiers who are tasked with protecting the legendary monuments men in their quest to recover art stolen by the Nazis. And lastly, Paul Woodson gives Leonardo da Vinci a scholarly and somber air as he describes his commission to paint Cecilia, “Lady with an Ermine.” J.E.S. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

OCTOBER 2020 - AudioFile