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The Art Detective: Fakes, Frauds, and Finds and the Search for Lost Treasures Audiobook
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(3.43) - 14 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
What separates a masterpiece from a piece of junk? Thanks to the BBC's Antiques Roadshow and its American spin-off, everyone is searching garage sales and hunting online for hidden gems, wondering whether their attics contain trash or treasures. In The Art Detective, Philip Mould, one of the world's foremost authorities on British portraiture and an irreverent and delightful expert for the Roadshow, serves up his secrets and his best stories, blending the technical details of art detection and restoration with juicy tales peopled by a range of eccentric collectors, scholars, forgers, and opportunities.
Each chapter focuses on one particular painting and the mystery that surrounds it. Mould is our trusty detective, tracking down clues, uncovering human foibles, and following hunches until the truth is revealed. Mould is known for his ability to crack the toughest puzzles, and whether he's writing about a fake Norman Rockwell, a hidden Rembrandt, or a lost Gainsborough, he brings both the art and the adventure to life. The Art Detective is memoir, mystery, art history, and brilliant yarn all rolled into one.
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"Since I don't know much about art or art history, I was a little intimidated by this book. However, I found it relatively easy to read and follow. Each chapter was a story within itself, literally reading like a detective story. I only wish it had a more definite ending. "
— Leslie (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Art historian Mould provides an accessible introduction to the world of art dealing, inviting the listener along as he tracks down the provenance of paintings—including a Thomas Gainsborough. His vignettes are fascinating…and they are deftly delivered by James Langton, whose crisp English accent coupled with an assertive, authoritative handling of the material proves delightful.”
— Publishers Weekly -
Mould proves he is wonderful storyteller, thanks in part to Langton's able performance.
— AudioFile -
“Mould proves he is wonderful storyteller, thanks in part to Langton’s able performance.”
— AudioFile -
“Mould writes like a born storyteller, revealing enough of his craft in these highly literate ‘war stories’ to pull in the layman reader and inform those who want to know a little about identifying and restoring art works without bogging down his yarns with needless minutia. Remarkably, given Mould’s stature in the world of art dealing, he devotes little space to self-congratulation, admirable modesty that makes his prose all the more endearing and the man all the more fascinating.”
— Booklist
The Art Detective Listener Reviews
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" Uneven chapters, but overall a fine read. "
— Gooby, 4/28/2011 -
" Wasn't as interesting as I had hoped. I had expected more detail on how to find out if a picture is fake. "
— Elf_owl, 1/21/2011 -
" Very interesting stories well told. Insights into art history. "
— Diane, 11/18/2010 -
" I won this from Goodreads earlier in the year but I just got to it now. <br/> <br/>Overall, I found the Art Detective interesting and informative but thought there was too much filler for what could have been pretty straight-forward stories. "
— Mekaela, 11/16/2010 -
" Entertaining and informative. Mould tells a great story. "
— Jenn, 11/15/2010 -
" A quick read, lots of fun for people interested in art and antigues -- or in mysteries about art and antiques. <br/> "
— Jane, 10/6/2010
About Philip Mould
Philip Mould appears regularly on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow and hosted the Channel 4 series Changing Faces, about the evolution of portraiture. Known as “the art detective,” he owns a gallery in London, is the art advisor to the British House of Commons and House of Lords, and even sold a painting to the queen. He lives in London with his wife and son and is turning parts of his book The Art Detective into a major multipart prime-time television series.
About James Langton
James Langton, an Earphones Award–winning narrator, trained as an actor at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and later as a musician at the Guildhall School in London. He has worked in radio, film, and television, also appearing in theater in England and on Broadway. He is also a professional musician who led the internationally renowned Pasadena Roof Orchestra from 1996 to 2002.