This is such a well written story. The characters are well developed
The back stories of the characters are great to read
The history was very well researched and I learned a lot
The two storylines are brought together so well.

An enlightening and enjoyable story full of history and a cleverly written dual timeline which kept me engaged throughout.
I liked the two seperate stories and how well they entwined with each other, I was really interested about the art history and how that connected with the WW2 era.
At times I found this a little heavy, but not too much to have me stop reading, I think it could have been shortened slightly, it does need your full attention. But hey, that's just me others may think it was perfect as it was.
I've not read anything by this author befreo and despite not 100% loving it - I don't think I was in the right mood for it when I read it, as I had other things going on the life, but I will certainly be reading more from her in the future.
Overall, a great historical fiction, just make sure you have time set aside to fully appreciate it.

Another lovely dual timeline WW2 novel but I found this one a bit different to the norm being based on the Nazi theft of great artworks. Great storyline and characters made this a compelling read

Amazing book that held my interest the whole time. I love WW2 historical era books and this one definately lived up to what I enjoy reading. Recommend this to anyone who likes this type of historical fiction book

I really enjoyed this novel. I had never read anything by Laura Morelli before, but I was very pleased with her writing style. This novel takes A LOT of concentration, so be sure and read it when you can have some quiet and not be constantly interrupted. While I do not have a lot of interest in art history, I felt I learned quite a bit from this novel without feeling overwhelmed. A great read for any historical fiction fan.

I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of diving into the timelines, locations, and art world. This historical fiction novel brings together various characters and places, as well as different timelines, to blend the history of WWII with art history. This is a clever premise and the author achieved what this premise was. I adore historical fiction that tells a story with true information of the past, but brings me into the life and times of the story. This book achieves this well.
For historical fiction lovers, this one is for you.
#HarperCollinsUK #TheNightPortrait #Netgalley

Once again I have gotten lost in a dual timeline historical fiction book based in WWII. The characters are really well developed and the author has managed to weave the story in a fluid manner. While the storyline itself is fiction, the fact that the painting by da Vinci being stolen during WWII is accurate. The amount of art which was stolen and eventually lost during Hitler’s reign of terror is appalling. The author’s notes provide additional background information that added to the enjoyment of reading this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Paperbacks for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

I loved "The Night Portrait" by Laura Moselli.  A dual-timeline historical novel creatively telling the story of one of Leonardo da Vinci's most famous paintings and the woman who fought to save it from the Nazis. With four main characters over two time-lines I thought this might be a challenging read but I was engrossed in no time.

A truly original story based around the da Vinci portrait "Lady with an Ermine". When you google the portrait, you will find it looks quite weird. But now I know the story behind the ermine symbolism and as I have come to love the sitter Cecilia Gallerani,  I appreciate the portrait more.

The epic novel starts with Leonard de Vinci about 1492.  He is early in his career and about to paint the portrait of Cecilia Gallerani, the beautiful mistress of the Duke of Milan.  We come to know her, learning how she must fight for her place in the palace—and against those who want her out. Is she naive? Or clever?

Our second time frame is 1939, where German art conservator Edith Becker is dragged into cohoots the brutal Nazi regime, as she is forced to catalogue some of the world’s most priceless works of art, owned by Poles running or taken from their homes by Hitlers armies. These treasures are essentially being stolen from wealthy Poles, whose fate is unknown but almost certainly ended in death.  The pieces of art are snapped up by Nazi heiracy like Hans Frank – the Butcher of Poland.  Edith tries to hide her own small acts of resistance – and avoid the unpredictable gaze of Frank himself.

In the WW2 timeframe, we also meet Dominic, who is an American soldier who has been deployed to the Monument Men division, who are tasked with finding these precious masterpieces, so they can be returned to the rightful owners.

So many themes and so much to learn in this fascinating book. The Nazi regime, art history, personal sacrifice and mural values instinctively knowing right from wrong.

Two women 500 years apart linked by the masterpiece of Leonardo da Vinci which is a pivet point for both of their lives. 

Thanks to NetGalley, One Chapter More and Laura Morelli.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary advance reader copy of this book in return for review based upon my honest opinion.

This cover and description of this book promised a great historical book but for some reason I had a hard time getting into it. I did enjoy the book overall but not as much as I thought I would.

This book takes place in two time periods. The first time period in this book is in the 1490s, about Leonardo da Vinci’s painting,The Lady with an Ermine, and centres around him painting the portrait of Cecelia. The second time frame in this book was set in World War II and centres around and art restorer, Edith and a soldier, Dominic. I found the story was much longer than needed to be and sometimes the story dragged on during Edith’s time frame. I enjoyed reading about the art restoration and Edith’s wish to return these artworks to their proper owners. I feel I have read better historical fictional stories about similar topics.

What a fantastic Historical Fiction! The story alternates between 1490s and 1940s - The Da Vinci period and WW2. The author has done a lot of research into writing this book and I really loved reading every bit of this book.
Highly recommended!

I received a copy of the book from Netgalley to review. Thank you for the opportunity.
An interesting story on the classic WW2 novel.. There is lots of information about paintings and art as the author clearly researched this story well. The writing is good and dreamy at times.
However, it was slow to get into and sometimes, the sections on art were a bit tedious but this may depend on whether the reader enjoys reading about art.
On the whole a good book.

This book was absolutely fascinating. I had very little idea of the back story of this painting or how art was stolen in WWII. Learning about the woman, the artist, the king, and the art historians gave me such a different perspective on the piece. It also shows you how much beauty is important to the people.

I enjoyed this book when I could concentrate on it, I enjoy a dual timeline book very much, this book's timelines were both researched very well and it showed in the writing.
Not a book that you can can just relax with, but a book to savour.
Really enjoyed it.

I was given a copy of The Night Portrait by Laura Morelli by the publisher in exchange for a honest review. The novel is set during world war 2 and in the 1700's. It is based around 4 characters Ceceila and Leonardo DaVinci in the 1700's. When Cecelia's father dies she doesn't want to be sent to the convent, she sets her sights on living with a Lord as his mistress. Leonardo is sent to paint Cecelia' s portrait. In World War 2 Edith is a German art historian and is sent to catalogue paintings which are taken from the Polish. Dominic is American he is sent to Germany to help protect the monuments men to save some of the paintings which have been taken by the Germans. I really enjoyed this novel, it was well written and loved all the characters.

What a great read. Found the historical content very interesting and the author was so descriptive I could really associate with the characters and story. Highly recommend

Another extraordinary piece of historical fiction relating to the painting of the Lady with the Ermine by Leonardo Da Vinci, from two different timelines, WW2 and the 15th century when it was completed. Myself, I felt the more recent storyline held my attention more, especially as I knew little of the movement of Art & Culture during the rise of the Nazi’s. Edith an passionate art conservator working in Berlin finds herself having to identify these priceless pieces of art and transport them across country on the whim of those in power. Cecelia a cuckolded young girl of the 15th century is mistress to the Duke Regent of Milan and believes she will become the next Duchess, however that is not to be, Da Vinci, the artist in charge of a recently commissioned painting of her and her brother support her through these dark times. An engrossing read, brutal and harsh at it’s worst, enlightening and well researched by Laura Morelli. Her best yet!

Thanks to Netgalley the author and One More Chapter publishers for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

The Night Portrait sounded intriguing with a focus on art theft in the Reich during WWII. With two timelines and four perspectives, there is a great deal going on in this book but unfortunately, it did not really work for me as a piece of fiction. However, there are a lot of good historical details included within - two varying perspectives of WWII and two historical figures from 15th century Italy, one being Leonardo da Vinci.

‘Edith’s eyes immediately went to the portrait of Cecilia Gallerani, as if the nearly 500-year-old girl could impart some of her own serenity to a situation teetering on the brink of disaster.’

The blurb is somewhat misleading as I thought there to be only two character viewpoints. It was slightly ambitious to have four character voices spanning centuries even though the theme of beauty and finding your way in dark times is solid. Sadly, I found it to be too much and with strangely varying and short chapter lengths, I was struggling with the read overall.

I found the WWII story to be the most engaging and admit to glancing over the da Vinci chapters with Cecelia (The Lady with the Ermine) being a rather irksome character. I wanted to maintain focus on what I found to be the stronger of the two tales - art theft. The book as a whole takes a long time to evolve and not until well past half way do things pick up. In some ways it felt like four separate stories as the connections were tenuous at best and that, I felt, was the downfall.

‘Dominic could hardly believe his ears. How could the American president be worried about art when thousands of people were losing their lives? But at the same time, he couldn't deny his wonder. “You mean these… Monuments Men… are just focused on saving art? How are they doing that?”

Art lovers, however, should rejoice in this read, with loads of details to consider (both fictional and otherwise). I really appreciated Edith’s efforts at preservation and learning a bit more about the famous Monuments Men of WWII. Fans of da Vinci and Renaissance art may appreciate his fictional voice with a possible history offered behind this famous painting. For me, sadly, there was too much going on, it dragged out and I had trouble focusing outside of Edith’s tale.

“My father always taught me that art was one of the things that gave people something to live for, and so we have to preserve it, to share it. I never understood why someone could presume to possess a piece of the past like that - a piece of the past that belongs to all of us.”




This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a historical fiction set in dual timelines with multiple voices. I didn't realize this novel dealt with the Monuments Men in WWII. It was a well researched novel for both the Milan and German time periods. I enjoyed Ediths perspective the most followed by Dominic. I was so glad that Dominic made it home but would have loved a year or two years later glimpse at his life and Edith as well and what happened to Kai? Great read!!!

Thank you to Harper Collins, One More Chapter and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a historical novel that combines the history of the painting Lady with the Ermine by Leonardo Da Vinci, a German woman named Edith Becker that is an art restorer and an American marine named Dominic. The story is told in first person by each of the main characters. I found this to be a very interesting story that tied together the story of the creation of the painting, of both the artist and the model, a woman who has dedicated her life to restoring works of art, and the story of the Monuments Men who worked to safeguard and return priceless pieces to their rightful owners.
I loved all the characters but most especially that of Edith. A strong young woman whose country uses her knowledge to steal famous works of art from Poland and other countries with the excuse that it is to protect them in museums.
This is a different aspect of the history of WWII that I really enjoyed.

Thoroughly enjoyable historical fiction, about Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting, Portrait of a Lady with an Ermine, and the brave woman of Nazi Germany who fights to protect this priceless resource. Well written and researched.