Portrait of an Unknown Woman: From a Stolen Klimt to a Literary Mystery

Praise for Portrait of an Unknown Woman

“In her immersive, imaginative new novel, de Peretti invents an explanation for the mystery that surrounds one of Gustav Klimt’s most famous works.”— The New York Times, Editors’ Choice

“Gustav Klimt originally painted Portrait of a Lady in 1910 and retouched it in 1917. Why did Klimt modify the painting? Who was his model? Who stole the painting in 1997? And why was it mysteriously returned in 2019? De Peretti’s intriguing work of historical fiction imagines answers to those questions... Settings in both New York and Vienna come alive in this beautifully written novel, as do the impassioned, imperfect characters. Recommended.”— Historical Novels Review

“A masterful family saga filled with love, family secrets, drama, and betrayal, taking the reader from Vienna to New York and Italy, from 1910 to the 1980s.”— Le Parisien (translated from the French)

“In this sweeping adventure, Camille de Peretti moves masterfully across eras and cities, building a story filled with passion and emotion.”— Femme Actuelle (translated from the French)

“From the theft of the painting to its unexpected reappearance, it is impossible not to be drawn into this beautifully crafted novel, rich in twists and turns... Poetic and spellbinding!”— Grazia (translated from the French)