The Portrait Artist

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Description

One morning in 1890, a painting wrapped in brown paper appears on the steps of the National Gallery and causes a sensation. Its clearly by Timothy Ponden-Hall, an artist whose paintings were famous, controversial, debated not just for their beauty but for the story behind them: they were believed to immortalise the soul of the subject. But the mysterious explorer and artist has been thought dead for the last 50 years so what does this new portrait mean The Gallery brings in renowned art historian and Ponden-Hall expert Solomon Oak to investigate, but as he races against time to uncover the truth, he discovers that exposing Ponden-Halls legacy will prove more controversial than he could have imagined for Victorian society. Set between London and Oxford in 1890, The Portrait Artist is a twisting story of adventure, art, gossip, and mystery, in which assumed perceptions of identity lead to the miswriting of history. Casting light onto those of mixed race and mixed social standing who did not fit tidily into historical society, challenging notions of gender in a prescriptive culture, it delves into themes of family, toxic fame, and unwanted inheritance.

Reviews

A triumph deliciously intriguing * Harriet Constable, author of The Instrumentalist *
Impeccably researched, masterfully plotted, beautifully written * Santa Montefiore, author of The House by the Sea *

Author Bio

Dani Heywood-Lonsdale has paternal roots on the tiny island of Molokai, Hawaii referred to as the Sandwich Islands throughout The Portrait Artist - and maternal roots in the Philippines. She is a Faber Academy alumni and teaches English Literature in Oxfordshire.