Let me warn you, gentle readers, that there are two requirements for enjoying this novel. You must have more than a passing interest in art, and you must be willing to suspend disbelief. Mr. Gruber has thrown in a little psychic time-travel, as his leading character finds himself actually "living" the life of one of the old Masters, and actually painting what he painted. If these sounds to you like "smoke and mirrors", you are right. However, the author allows his character to make the transitions from present to past and back again flawlessly.

In one chapter, his protagonist says something to the effect that while he is a very talented commercial painter he would much prefer to paint people, because he feels that it is more important to delve within the character of the person whom he is painting than to concentrate on the colors and the background, etc. I think that this bit of philosophy found its way into Mr. Gruber's novel, as he so carefully draws his characters that the reader can almost see their images and feel their thoughts.

This book is a bit of magic. It is more than a story; it is philosophical study of the best kind. More than that, it is a wonderful read.
Review by Litera Scripta