Raphael’s Portrait of a Young Man is the most important and precious
masterpiece which got lost from Polish museums during the Second World War.
Until now we don’t know if it was destroyed or survived the war time and has
been pleasing some private collector’s eye since then.
In Priceless (the Polish title Bezcenny)
by Zygmunt Miłoszewski, finding the painting has been the most important
task in Zofia Lorentz’s career. As a Ministry of Foreign Affairs worker, she is
responsible for regaining artworks that have been lost or stolen from Polish museums
and galleries. And she is known for being highly successful in what she does. When
Portrait of a Young Man is finally
traced in the USA, Lorentz and her team go there to get it. Even though they
are aware it won’t be easy and will include burglary and theft.
The main characters turn out
to be a lethal combination and it’s impossible not to feel bonds with them.
Zofia is a mad art devotee but when it comes to things that aren’t connected
with her passion, she is tough and uncompromising. In her team there are also a
cynical art dealer with a warm heart (by
the way, Zofia’s ex-lover), a retired ranger and a spy (one of the best in the
country) and a Swedish art thief, released from prison on this occasion. Each
of them is unique and I guarantee that you will love them at once. Especially
the charming Scandinavian noblewoman seems to steal not only artworks but readers’
hearts as well.
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| Portrait of a Young Man by Raphael |
At first sight Priceless appears to be one the thrillers
that flooded the bookstores after the success of The Da Vinci Code, but
don’t let yourself be misled by the plot summary! Yes, there is a secret, which
- if revealed – is going to change our view on the 20th century
history. Yes, there is a group of art-seekers, who constantly get into troubles
but always manage to save their butts just in the very last moment. Yes, the
plot refers to one the most mysterious paintings dating back to the same time
as The Last Supper, which creates
such a confusion in The Da Vinci Code.
Taking into consideration only those rather well-worn ideas, the novel is only
one of many Brown-like thrillers.
But Miłoszewski’s book is
something much better! The author plays with well-known motifs, juggles them
adding his own ideas and in this way turning even the most predictable scenes
into little pieces of art. I truly enjoyed his wiring style, irony and black
humour, which didn’t let me put the book on the shelf without a long struggle
with myself.
Although it’s been quite a
long time since I read Priceless, I
still find it one of the best books in its genre. It gave me a lot of emotions,
I was laughing a lot but also found myself with a tear in my eye in a few
moments. I can only wish myself and other readers more such
books.
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