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Da Vinci's Last Commission
Near Fine/Fine. First Edition Hardcover. No marks or inscriptions. A very clean very tight copy with bright unmarked boards, small tears to upper edge of one page only (book otherwise fine condition) and no bumping to corners. Dust jacket not price clipped or marked or torn or creased with very minor traces of storage. 320pp. The story of one woman's courage and tenacity in challenging the international art establishment. and the Catholic Church. Art experts who examined her old painting of Madonna and Child realised that it pointed to one of the greatest heresies of our time, an incredible story that the Roman Catholic Church has been desperate to keep secret at all costs for centuries. Illustrated. ISBN 1780571135
- GenresNonfictionArt
320 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 15, 2013
I absolutely adored this book. To say it was life changing is putting it mildly. Fiona's thorough and probing research captivated my interest and attention - far more than Dan Brown's Da Vinci code. I loved learning more about Leonardo and his beliefs and the mysteries embedded in the portrait. As she writes, " Nothing is there by chance, everything is meant to convey a truth, a story." I've seen with my own eyes what Fiona conveys. Very powerful! How lucky is Fiona, and in turn how lucky are we, that she inherited what is believed to be an original da Vinci and has made it her quest to share her knowledge with us.
I originally came across Da Vinci's Last Commission while researching my book of art related fiction Mona Lisa's Secret and had assumed it was also a fictional account. I recall the day I opened the book vividly - it was a solar eclipse - there was a magic and power in the air. I walked around Wellington's South Coast, sat down upon the grass by the sea and read the first page and was hooked instantly. Unlike Dan Brown's DA Vinci code - which I have read other reviewers compare this book with - Da Vinci's Last Commission is not a sensationalised work of fiction but a true story born of fact and meticulous research.
As Fiona writes, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” from the Gospel of Mary Magdalene (which I had never heard of before). I heard so many things I had never before questioned yet had always felt a sense of disquiet about. reading this book was a wonderful wake-up call.
If you are looking for an intriguing, compelling and thoroughly captivating read and love art Da Vinci's Last Commission is a must.
I originally came across Da Vinci's Last Commission while researching my book of art related fiction Mona Lisa's Secret and had assumed it was also a fictional account. I recall the day I opened the book vividly - it was a solar eclipse - there was a magic and power in the air. I walked around Wellington's South Coast, sat down upon the grass by the sea and read the first page and was hooked instantly. Unlike Dan Brown's DA Vinci code - which I have read other reviewers compare this book with - Da Vinci's Last Commission is not a sensationalised work of fiction but a true story born of fact and meticulous research.
As Fiona writes, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” from the Gospel of Mary Magdalene (which I had never heard of before). I heard so many things I had never before questioned yet had always felt a sense of disquiet about. reading this book was a wonderful wake-up call.
If you are looking for an intriguing, compelling and thoroughly captivating read and love art Da Vinci's Last Commission is a must.
May 8, 2018
I wanted to enjoy this book much more than I actually did! It took me almost a month to read it, and I considered giving up several times, but I kept hoping it would improve. The issue was not the subject matter, which sounded fascinating, more the author’s writing style which was unconstructed and fragmented. It was as if she was writing as the words came out of her head! At one point, she actually wrote ‘Oh, hang on! I’ve just noticed something else’. I would have hoped a decent editor would have pulled her up on this, but clearly not.
The premise of the book concerns a painting which had been given to the author, Fiona McLaren’s doctor father, by a client, and the painting had been passed to McLaren after her father’s death. The work appeared to be of the Madonna and Child with John the Baptist, however certain clues in the painting together with other items that came with it, led the author to believe that the woman was actually Mary Magdalene and the child was one that she bore with Christ himself. The author believed that the work was carried out by Leonardo Da Vinci as a communication that Jesus survived his crucifixion, and moved with Mary Magdalene to the south of France and ultimately on to Scotland with their children. It’s an interesting idea similar to that proposed by Dan Brown in the Da Vinci Code, however like Dan Brown - in whose work I spotted at least four major errors through what I had learned whilst studying for my history degree! - McLaren makes too many leaps of faith and includes too much conjecture to give the theory much credibility. With some proper editing, and less obvious speculation, this book could be an intriguing read, but as it was, I just found it frustrating - and a bit of a slog!
The premise of the book concerns a painting which had been given to the author, Fiona McLaren’s doctor father, by a client, and the painting had been passed to McLaren after her father’s death. The work appeared to be of the Madonna and Child with John the Baptist, however certain clues in the painting together with other items that came with it, led the author to believe that the woman was actually Mary Magdalene and the child was one that she bore with Christ himself. The author believed that the work was carried out by Leonardo Da Vinci as a communication that Jesus survived his crucifixion, and moved with Mary Magdalene to the south of France and ultimately on to Scotland with their children. It’s an interesting idea similar to that proposed by Dan Brown in the Da Vinci Code, however like Dan Brown - in whose work I spotted at least four major errors through what I had learned whilst studying for my history degree! - McLaren makes too many leaps of faith and includes too much conjecture to give the theory much credibility. With some proper editing, and less obvious speculation, this book could be an intriguing read, but as it was, I just found it frustrating - and a bit of a slog!
February 11, 2013
Completely captured by it.
Read
September 14, 2013Brilliant. Would love to have a closer look at this painting.
January 29, 2024
Oh sweet baby jesus.
When you're referencing the Da Vinci code as a historical reference, you know you've got a problem.
Also when you have an alternative history being written by somebody who is proud of their lack of historical knowledge, and in fact considers it a positive that they are one of those bold outsiders who doesn't have to rely on academic tradition...
Look, this is a disaster, and I think it was either an attempt to cash in on Dan Brown, or an attempt to sell a fake Da Vinci. Either way, best avoided.
When you're referencing the Da Vinci code as a historical reference, you know you've got a problem.
Also when you have an alternative history being written by somebody who is proud of their lack of historical knowledge, and in fact considers it a positive that they are one of those bold outsiders who doesn't have to rely on academic tradition...
Look, this is a disaster, and I think it was either an attempt to cash in on Dan Brown, or an attempt to sell a fake Da Vinci. Either way, best avoided.
July 28, 2021
I loved everything about this book and this brave woman. Some things are meant to be, and I believe this remarkable painting was meant to fall under the scrutiny of Fiona McLaren. With insatiable curiosity and uncommon integrity, she brings her research to the world. Open your mind and treat yourself to the story of one of the most interesting stories in art today.
September 14, 2017
Not sure I believe any of it but an interesting read nonetheless.
February 18, 2022
Loved it! Hence the 5*.
But then I've always been interested in the Knights Templar, the Royal Bloodline, the 'missing Dead Sea scrolls'... .
I should have read this sooner.
But then I've always been interested in the Knights Templar, the Royal Bloodline, the 'missing Dead Sea scrolls'... .
I should have read this sooner.
May 19, 2013
Oh dear...I got to 76 pages out of 305 before giving up on this hybrid love-child of Dan Brown's 'Da Vinci Code' [referred to often as a source of info] and Baigent et al's 'Holy Blood and Holy Grail; [referred to equally frequently].
The basic premise is that the author owns a Renaissance painting of the 'Madonna and Child with St John the Baptist'. During a bout of severe depression, following a business collapse, she is given a copy of Baigent's book and in its now well known theory that Christ married Mary Magdalene and had a child which was connected to the French Royal family she found a belief to carry her through her depression. She also came to believe that her painting shows Mary Magdalene holding the child she bore to Jesus and that it was painted by Leonardo da Vinci. The book is her attempt to prove that theory true.
Unfortunately it is very badly written in a very conversational style, with no notes to enable the reader to follow up references. In the 76 pages I read the author appears to cite texts which suit her belief without considering current academic debates around them cf Robert Graves and the 'White Goddess' on page 36, and the dissection of the same text by Helen Morales in her 'Classical Mythology'.
The author appears to make a virtue of her lack of academic training / background in the subjects she discusses, but it only serves to weaken her thesis.
I'll end this review with my favourite image from what I had read: Christ as a proto-gap-year student 'doing' Rock, Padstow and North Cornwall on holiday with his great-uncle Joseph of Arimathea ;-> [According to McLaren Christ accompanied him on tin-trading expeditions to Cornwall]
The basic premise is that the author owns a Renaissance painting of the 'Madonna and Child with St John the Baptist'. During a bout of severe depression, following a business collapse, she is given a copy of Baigent's book and in its now well known theory that Christ married Mary Magdalene and had a child which was connected to the French Royal family she found a belief to carry her through her depression. She also came to believe that her painting shows Mary Magdalene holding the child she bore to Jesus and that it was painted by Leonardo da Vinci. The book is her attempt to prove that theory true.
Unfortunately it is very badly written in a very conversational style, with no notes to enable the reader to follow up references. In the 76 pages I read the author appears to cite texts which suit her belief without considering current academic debates around them cf Robert Graves and the 'White Goddess' on page 36, and the dissection of the same text by Helen Morales in her 'Classical Mythology'.
The author appears to make a virtue of her lack of academic training / background in the subjects she discusses, but it only serves to weaken her thesis.
I'll end this review with my favourite image from what I had read: Christ as a proto-gap-year student 'doing' Rock, Padstow and North Cornwall on holiday with his great-uncle Joseph of Arimathea ;-> [According to McLaren Christ accompanied him on tin-trading expeditions to Cornwall]
November 6, 2012
I don't think I can finish this. It seemed an interesting subject; the investigation of an old painting which turned out to be something special. A bit like Fake or Fortune on TV. But the doubts set in very quickly. McLaren says she's not an academic or an expert, but that means she can be objective. True up to a point; but experts are called that because they know a lot. Then we find that her whole quest was inspired by reading The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail, which was a revelation to her. Oh dear. She proceeds in the same fashion as that book and its kind; leap from a possibility to an established fact to an amazing new world order. By chapter two we are invited to share her breathless astonishment at discoveries about Mary Magdalene. Trouble is, they are not new. That's enough for me.
August 17, 2016
It quite an easy read and certainly poses many questions about not just this painting but the belief in the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. It is a quite fantastic tale populated with truth, theory, supposition and folk lore and to be fair Fiona McLaren throws it all in there and leaves the reader to make up their own mind. Can I believe in the theory of earthly bodily survival and a flight from Judea via France to Scotland? As a Scot wouldn't that be so amazing to find that we are one of the real centres and origins of Christianity. Alas I don't think that the evidence, if available, will ever see the light of day. This was an enjoyable book which complimented her talk at Dundee Uni in March this year...
August 4, 2016
That's one clever author. She managed to to get me to waste my money buying a book that's based on tosh.
The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail seems to be a work that the author relies on for many things.
No scientific tests done on the painting, on the backing nor of the paint. Not a single one. You'd think that would have been done before publishing the book. But no.
Where are all the experts in fine art confirming that it's a Da Vinci? Nope, they're not mentioned either.
Somewhat surprised that there's no claim the painting was found beneath the Apprentice Pillar in Rosslyn Chapel or that the lamb was a representation of an extraterrestrial being, worshipped by King Arthur.
The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail seems to be a work that the author relies on for many things.
No scientific tests done on the painting, on the backing nor of the paint. Not a single one. You'd think that would have been done before publishing the book. But no.
Where are all the experts in fine art confirming that it's a Da Vinci? Nope, they're not mentioned either.
Somewhat surprised that there's no claim the painting was found beneath the Apprentice Pillar in Rosslyn Chapel or that the lamb was a representation of an extraterrestrial being, worshipped by King Arthur.
July 3, 2013
I looked forward to reading this book but was sadly disappointed. I learned nothing new either about the painting or, indeed, the theories a la Dan Brown and The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail which, in fact, were much better written. The illustrations used were far too small to be useful for the points made in the book. Disappointing
August 11, 2013
'The Most Sensational Detective Story in the History of Art' - Don't get fooled by this, It's just another exaggerated opinion to make you buy this book. It's biased and written in such a stiff language that it makes it unpleasant to read, I regretted buying it as soon as I got to page 10.
The story line is just another cheap remake of Dan Brown's Davinci Code.
The story line is just another cheap remake of Dan Brown's Davinci Code.
December 8, 2012
I couln't finish it. The most boring book I've ever read in my life. There's no story! Its about the beliefs of the writer who is not even convinced of her own thoughts. Don't waste time of money! Disgrace
May 24, 2013
Yet another author to clamber up on the Da Vinci bandwagon.
One for the gullible.
One for the gullible.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews