"The Night Portrait" by Laura Morelli is a captivating historical novel that seamlessly weaves together the lives of two women separated by centuries. Set against the backdrop of Renaissance Italy and World War II Germany, the novel follows the parallel journeys of Gabriele, a young apprentice in Leonardo da Vinci's studio, and Adele, a curator tasked with safeguarding priceless artwork during the Nazi occupation of Italy. Morelli's characters are richly drawn and complex, with Gabriele and Adele both facing moral dilemmas and personal struggles that resonate with readers. Their interconnected stories unfold against a vividly rendered atmosphere, transporting readers to the vibrant streets of Florence and the war-torn landscapes of Germany.

Morelli's writing style is elegant and evocative, capturing the beauty and brutality of both eras with equal skill. The plot of "The Night Portrait" is filled with intrigue and suspense, as Gabriele and Adele navigate the dangerous waters of art theft and political intrigue. The mystery surrounding the titular portrait of a woman with a secret smile adds an extra layer of suspense to the narrative, keeping readers guessing until the very end. The logic behind the characters' relationships and decisions is generally sound, adding depth and authenticity to the story.

Overall, "The Night Portrait" is a compelling and immersive read that will appeal to fans of historical fiction and art history alike. Morelli's meticulous research and vivid storytelling make for a truly memorable reading experience. Whether you're drawn to the allure of Renaissance Italy or the intrigue of World War II espionage, "The Night Portrait" is sure to captivate and entertain.

I enjoyed this book. Before reading it I had never herd of the Monument Men or how they were part of WW2. The inclusion of Leonardo Da Vinci was also good. The alternate timelines were done well and kept things interesting. This was my first by this author but I usually do not select historical fiction.

Thanks for the opportunity!

I really enjoyed this book.I wasn't aware of the Monument Men or their role during WWII.I also enjoyed reading about Leonardo Da Vinci and his muse,along with that period of history.I found the alternate timelines really kept my interest.Now I want to read this author's other books because I like this one so much!

Laura Morelli's "The Night Portrait" is a mesmerizing blend of art, history, and intrigue that kept me captivated from beginning to end. Set against the backdrop of World War II, this novel transports readers to the heart of Nazi-occupied Italy and tells a story of courage, sacrifice, and the enduring power of art.

"The Night Portrait" by Laura Morelli was such an intriguing read. To have this dual-timeline that was set 500 years apart from the 1400's to WW2, inspired by real-life events (a new perspective for me) and so beautifully written was an amazing treat!

I was given an eb00k copy quite some time ago by @bookclubgirls as a Friday Freebie and it got lost in the TBR shuffle. After I started reading, the audio book lover in me wondered about the narrator and I was thrilled to see that each of the four main characters had his/her own narrator. I decided to listen and read along and I'm so glad I did. They were awesome and brought Leonardo, Edith, Cecilia and Dominic to life.

It takes my breath away to think about da Vinci and life in the 1400's, then how these paintings were selfishly used during WW2 and finally how we're still able to appreciate many of them today. What a journey!

Whether you choose to read, listen or both, I highly recommend "The Night Portrait"! Thank you to NetGalley, @bookclubgirls and William Morrow for this fascinating read.

Such an interesting topic and book! I’m fascinated by the Monuments Men and all those worked to save and preserve valuable art works during WWII.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Since I’ve read many historical fiction with dual timelines centered around WWII I’ve started to look for themes I’ve not read before, The Night Portrait by Laura Morelli falls into this category. I’d previously heard about the Monuments Men a s the work they did during the war but I liked how the author added Edith’s timeline to show a woman working to save priceless art and her dedication to return it to the rightful owners. I enjoyed Cecelia and da Vinci’s timelines the most - I’ve not read much on da Vinci so it was interesting to learn about his passions. Enjoyable read.

3.5 stars

An interesting dual-timeline novel, taking place in 15th century Milan, and during WWII in Germany and Poland. The story slowly unfolds through the POV of four characters which eventually connect: Leonardo Da Vinci; Cecilia Gallerani, the subject of Da Vinci’s famous portrait Lady with an Ermine; Dominic Bonelli, an American soldier who is part of D-Day and is then sent on a mission with the Monuments Men; and Edith Becker, a German art conservator.

The historical aspects from both time periods are fascinating, particularly the background of Da Vinci’s painting and the story of those who fought to recover the priceless art that was stolen by the Nazis. The author’s note and the interview with the founder of the Monuments Men Foundation at the end of the book is interesting and provides further information.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Took a little bit to get used to the 4 storylines, but once that was settled it was interesting to figure out how the storylines intertwined.

I was thankful for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book! I was intrigued with how the author would be able to weave together two story lines that were almost 500 years apart. I was more than delightfully surprised with how good this book was!

An intriguing premise and well written, but the 4 differing narrators felt tenuously connected at best. In my opinion, the narrative would have been best left to just the 2 women described in the novel summary. Overall, the book started out strong but weakened as the short choppy chapters kept dragging me from one narrator to the next, on and on. Enjoyable all the same and I did find a new perspective on the war and recovery effort related to the art and antiquities. 3.5 stars.

It took me several chapters to get familiar with the multiple points of views and timelines of this novel, but once I had my head around the story, I could not wait to delve into the book and discover what happened next!

The Night Portrait explored a part of WWII I have not been exposed to in other novels from this time period. I loved learning about the priceless works of art that so many men and women worked to save during the war. What a fabulous, well-written novel! I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Like The Women in Gold and The Monuments Men, this book presents an important story. People must remember what happened during WWII, how the Nazis attempted to steal all the best fine art in the world. They got no further than taking most of the fine art and collectibles from all much of Europe, planning to keep the best of the best for the pleasure of the German High Command’s officers. They had no intention of “saving” this artwork for posterity, for the people of the world, not even for the German citizenry. They took little care to keep the works safe, storing them in areas where damage and destruction awaited many of them.

There are four stories with different timelines. When the four stories come together, it’s like bright lights turning on to chase away the darkness and the horror that the Third Reich wrought. We follow Leonardo da Vinci, the now famous artist; Celia Gallerani, a young country woman who becomes the mistress of the Regent of Milan; Dominic Bonelli, a US army private; and Edith Becker, a German art conservator.

This book allows us to see this action from the viewpoint of Edith, a German art conservator. She tries her best to protect the work, keeps inventories of much of it, and constantly tries to figure out how to return the work to the rightful owners. She’s convinced that those in charge of the project, particularly Hans Frank, the Butcher of Poland, intend to keep the artwork for themselves. Having little power, she does all she can to protect the masterworks, even carrying them from place to place herself, just to make sure they are not damaged or lost in transit.

A wonderful and interesting book, one that’s definitely worth the time to read.

I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley. I thank all involved for their generosity, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.

Normally, WWII books make me sad. The exception I have found are those about Nazi art theft. This falls under that category. I have been getting tired of the use of dual timelines in historical fiction, but Morelli weaves the stories of da Vinci, Dominic, Cecilia, and Edith together, repeating sentences to highlight similarities. I particularly enjoyed Edith and Dominic's stories. Edith, realizing her own complicitness in the theft of Polish culture, and trying to figure out how to make up for it and live with what she had done. Dominic, who just wanted to get home, wondering if searching for art is worth it. I liked that Morelli did not shy away from the horrors of war, but she did not dwell on them either. I completely agree with her note about avoiding WWII stories because of how they tear at your soul. I appreciate her writing a book about the time period that did not make me sad.

What a beautiful historical immersive story. mtiple timeslines with a very familiar Leonarda DaVinci playing a lead role. An artt historian is challenged to save paintings during a world War 2 and his famous Lady with Ermine plays a central role. Loved every word.

A different take on the WWII novel from the perspective of a German art restorer - I really enjoyed the narrative of Cecelia in the 15th century as well.

I recently received an ARC of The Night Portrait, by Laura Morelli, in exchange for an honest review. While I frequently read historical fiction set in WWII, art theft during the time is not often broached in the ones I've read. As both the Renaissance and WWII are of interest to me, I was excited to find this novel that intertwined the two. Morelli did not disappoint me with this one. It was a quick, informative read. The characters are interesting, the descriptions are colorful, and the desire to do some of my own research on the topic has been inspired!

The Night Portrait by Laura Morelli was an all encompassing story which told of a painting from the points of view of Leonardo da Vinci's subject, Cecelia Gallerini; Leonardo, himself; Dominic, an American soldier who was assigned to drive and protect men who later became known as the Monuments Men; and Edith, a art conservator who was pulled in to help the Nazis steal works of art from all over Europe. Edith had become very protective of the portrait known as The Lady With an Ermine and suffered greatly from her guilty conscience over this and many other works being stolen from their rightful owners, let alone what the Nazis were doing to innocents all over Europe. Dominic wasn't sure that expending all this energy on art while people were suffering was justified. Cecelia was an innocent young woman who became the mistress of a rich and powerful man to give herself a chance a t a decent life. Leonardo was an inventor who had to paint portraits to keep the patronage of the men that supported him so he could follow his dreams.

It was an amazing saga. Yet another glimpse into World War II and the damage the Nazis wrought. Cecelia was Morelli's nod to the time in history which has always been her primary topic and it melded into the whole beautifully. It was such an emotional time and Morelli gets it right. Dominic with his fears and his attacks of conscience are typical of man American, and Allied soldiers who were part of the liberation. Edith, who was not able to, at least on the surface, do what she knew was right is probably a portrait of many of the people who were forced to tow the line under the Nazi regime. It was a wonderful book, one worthy of a read.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Night Portrait by William Morrow, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #williammorrow #thenightportrait

I really enjoyed this book! I love WWII historical fiction, and it was so interesting how this book combined WWII fiction and the story of Leonardo da Vinci and the woman behind one of his portraits. I think the author did a really good job of portraying the reality of a German art restoration expert who had no choice but to be conscripted into the Nazi efforts to confiscate priceless works of art from all over Europe during WWII. The story also showed the point of view of an American soldier who was part of the famous Monuments Men, whose job it was to retrieve these priceless works of art to their rightful owners and countries. Even though there were multiple narrators in this book, it was easy to follow the story. This was my first book from Laura Morelli and it definitely won't be my last! I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

This is a dual timeline story that alternates between Cecilia, who is the subject of da Vinci’s Female with an Ermine portrait, and Edith who helps steal but then ultimately save the portrait during WWII. I did like both sides of this story but would rather have just read them as two separate stories as the only tie between the two was the portrait. I would have liked to have had more of a story developed with Cecilia and what transpired during her lifetime. I would rate a 3.5 but if separated into two different stories that were each developed more fully, I would likely rate higher as I did enjoy the writing.