To Catch a Thief
Page 28
For a look at the high-stakes world of art forgery, pick up False Impressions: The Hunt for Big-Time Art Fakes, by Thomas Hoving (New York: Touchstone, 1997). The former director of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art dishes up an insider’s look at the creative ways highly trained forgers try to make a killing.
But art experts today use extensive scientific techniques to verify authenticity of art and to carry out conservation work. You’ll find a closer look at Nell’s world and the training required in Conservation Skills: Judgement, Method and Decision Making by Chris Caple (London and New York: Routledge, 2000). Protecting art from the ravages of time and natural decay is an ongoing battle, but the conservator’s arsenal keeps growing. Art, Biology, and Conservation: Biodeterioration of Works of Art, edited by Robert J. Koestler et al. (New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2004) gives a detailed look at cutting-edge techniques that keep masterpieces safe.
Centuries after his death, Leonardo da Vinci continues to fascinate viewers with his genius. The illegitimate son of a notary, Leonardo went on to unmatched triumphs as painter, scientist, engineer and inventor. Thousands of sketches preserve his insatiable quest to understand the workings of human anatomy and the natural world. His incorrigible servant, Salai, was well known as a liar, thief and manipulator. The rest of his contribution to this story is speculation, as is the curse on the stolen sketch. Does such a preparatory sketch for the Mona Lisa actually exist? I’ll leave that answer to Adrian Draycott.
What fun to see another SEAL meet his match! To learn more about Nell’s free-climbing skills, check out Rock Climbing: Mastering Basic Skills by Craig Luebben (Seattle: Mountaineers Books, 2004). For a closer look at the gonzo techniques that make up parkour, check out the amazing videos on YouTube, in case you missed examples in the recent James Bond installment, “Casino Royale.”
Find your grip.
Go forward, as Nell likes to say.
Finally, I know that Izzy’s on your mind! Judging by your constant e-mails, you want this charming hunk to have his own book. I’m working on it, believe me, but the man is one tough customer.
For a special look into Izzy’s shadowy past and his secret case files describing past and future books, log on to www.christinaskye.com/izzyfiles. If you’re among the first fifty readers to log in to access Izzy’s secret case notes, you’ll win a special, limited edition T-shirt with Izzy’s signature, along with access to an audio story that will not be available in stores. So get your iPod or MP3 player charged up and ready to roll.
Hey, Izzy’s a techno kind of guy! He also says thanks to Nick and Celeste from NJ for the da Vinci help.
Meanwhile, savor the abbey’s moonlight. Smell the perfume from its old roses. Above all, enjoy its promise of beauty and unending love as new mysteries unfold.
Until your next visit…happy reading.
Christina
ISBN: 978-1-4268-2142-4
TO CATCH A THIEF
Copyright © 2008 by Roberta Helmer
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