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Leonardo's Chair
Vincent LaBont is a world-class artist who attributes his creative ability to a chair he owns—a chair that he claims was created and empowered by Leonardo Da Vinci. When his home catches fire, Vincent is severely burned trying to rescue the chair. Later he realizes the chair was stolen before the house burned. Distraught that his creative abilities no longer exist without the chair, Vincent's son Paul, a painter himself, sets out for Italy where they suspect the chair has been taken. While Vincent contemplates his life in California without the chair, Paul grapples with his Is Leonardo's chair real? Does it possess ancient power to create? Ultimately he, too, is seduced by the idea of the chair's power. Will he use the chair to recreate one of Leonardo's paintings? Will he become another anonymous copyist? Download the Readers' Guide.
384 pages, Paperback
First published December 22, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 6, 2020
Great indies read!! A slow burner mystery that take time to breath and let you enjoy the great arts description. I love the way the art world is set in this book, you felt it, you live it and it was very believable. The characters were well develop and interesting and I also like the ending with a open place for a sequel. That's a good example of why i want to read so much indies books, for those rare gems we fine, not that often, but always so satisfying when we do!
January 21, 2024
A book that would have been great if it were left up to interpretation, but as an allegory felt incredibly heavy handed. I gave it four stars because at the end of the day it was a fairly good story and even fairly well written. The religious symbolism simply felt too obvious (they die in fires if they get too full of hubris? Really?) and the message took to long to get to when it was clear from the get go.
June 1, 2019
I only gave it two stars because I was very disappointed in the ending. I really love reading about the art world, especially the Italian artists. The premise of the story was great but the ending was very anticlimactic.
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December 10, 2019very enjoyable reading. at the time there was all the buzz around St Peter's square and the symbolism in that square ---it's amazing; this book takes me back there.
July 23, 2020
Kind of slow, too many words to get to the point of things, but entertaining nonetheless.
June 21, 2010
I pulled Leonardo’s Chair off the bookshelf at my local Christian bookstore because of its curious title. I took it to the checkout counter because of the intriguing synopsis on the back cover. I’m glad I did both of those things. I highly recommend you do the same.
The title “character”, Leonardo’s chair, as you might surmise, is just that: a chair made by the great artist Leonardo Da Vinci. Frustrated that his life was waning and his artistic genius will die with him, Da Vinci builds an ornate chair and somehow imbues it with a supernatural power: his own artistic greatness. Anyone who sits in the chair can achieve the artistic mastery that Da Vinci himself had. However, the gift comes with a price—a terrible curse that entraps the unwary artist in his own ambition for greatness.
This price has been paid repeatedly throughout the family history of the Duke of Savoy. The Savoy dynasty has owned the chair since the 16th century—that is, until it’s lost just prior to World War II to the Nazis, as they plundered the great art treasures of Europe. A California artist, Vincent LaBont, acquires the chair and tastes of its mystical powers. When the chair is stolen and returned to the Duke of Savoy’s castle in the Italian Alps, Vincent dispatches his son, Paul, to recover it. The Duke has other plans, however, and Paul is caught up in an elaborate scheme that ultimately puts him in mortal danger—by the lure and the curse of the chair itself! Complicating the plot is the Duke’s beautiful daughter, Isabella, who has her own plans for the chair, unbeknownst to both her father and Paul.
The New World and the Old World clash in a fascinating story that is steeped in classical Renaissance history and the intricacies—and passion—of the art of painting. You won’t know who to trust, who to cheer, or who to boo, as Mr. DeSimone skillfully unfolds his story one brush stroke at a time.
It sometimes seems that authors, in their effort to produce something new, something different, something outside-the-box, occasionally stretch a story’s moral or theological theme so thin that it either disappears altogether, or—even worse—stays visible and travel to places it should never go. Mr. DeSimone has accomplished the former without resorting to the latter; that is, Leonardo’s Chair may be unlike any other novel you’ll find in a Christian bookstore, but its spiritual impact is stark, and its message solid. But Mr. DeSimone takes a risk in subtlety. Twice while reading this book I nearly set it aside when encountering Biblical arguments that go awry. But for the reputation of the publisher (River Oak is an imprint of Cook Communications Ministries), I may have followed through with my error. Thank the Lord for perseverance, though, because Mr. DeSimone delivers wonderfully on his message, using the seemingly logical arguments to illustrate the fallacy of faulty perspective. And, as someone who values subtlety in story-telling, I’m somewhat embarrassed that Mr. DeSimone caught me as flatfooted as he did.
All the better! Bravo!
The title “character”, Leonardo’s chair, as you might surmise, is just that: a chair made by the great artist Leonardo Da Vinci. Frustrated that his life was waning and his artistic genius will die with him, Da Vinci builds an ornate chair and somehow imbues it with a supernatural power: his own artistic greatness. Anyone who sits in the chair can achieve the artistic mastery that Da Vinci himself had. However, the gift comes with a price—a terrible curse that entraps the unwary artist in his own ambition for greatness.
This price has been paid repeatedly throughout the family history of the Duke of Savoy. The Savoy dynasty has owned the chair since the 16th century—that is, until it’s lost just prior to World War II to the Nazis, as they plundered the great art treasures of Europe. A California artist, Vincent LaBont, acquires the chair and tastes of its mystical powers. When the chair is stolen and returned to the Duke of Savoy’s castle in the Italian Alps, Vincent dispatches his son, Paul, to recover it. The Duke has other plans, however, and Paul is caught up in an elaborate scheme that ultimately puts him in mortal danger—by the lure and the curse of the chair itself! Complicating the plot is the Duke’s beautiful daughter, Isabella, who has her own plans for the chair, unbeknownst to both her father and Paul.
The New World and the Old World clash in a fascinating story that is steeped in classical Renaissance history and the intricacies—and passion—of the art of painting. You won’t know who to trust, who to cheer, or who to boo, as Mr. DeSimone skillfully unfolds his story one brush stroke at a time.
It sometimes seems that authors, in their effort to produce something new, something different, something outside-the-box, occasionally stretch a story’s moral or theological theme so thin that it either disappears altogether, or—even worse—stays visible and travel to places it should never go. Mr. DeSimone has accomplished the former without resorting to the latter; that is, Leonardo’s Chair may be unlike any other novel you’ll find in a Christian bookstore, but its spiritual impact is stark, and its message solid. But Mr. DeSimone takes a risk in subtlety. Twice while reading this book I nearly set it aside when encountering Biblical arguments that go awry. But for the reputation of the publisher (River Oak is an imprint of Cook Communications Ministries), I may have followed through with my error. Thank the Lord for perseverance, though, because Mr. DeSimone delivers wonderfully on his message, using the seemingly logical arguments to illustrate the fallacy of faulty perspective. And, as someone who values subtlety in story-telling, I’m somewhat embarrassed that Mr. DeSimone caught me as flatfooted as he did.
All the better! Bravo!
September 20, 2014
I found this piece of historical fiction and mystery a page turner. From what was the chair all about to conscious thoughts about whether your gifts are inspired by God or given through a talisman. We all have a special gift. There is something that each of us is exceptional at doing and what is it that we are doing with it.
John DeSimone makes the images of the art in the story come alive. Geeze, I wish I could have seen that place in Italy or is it fictional too? He's got a way of drawing you in and taking you along for the ride and turning the page until you've reached the end of the novel and want for more. You'll just have to pick up a copy to find out more.
John DeSimone makes the images of the art in the story come alive. Geeze, I wish I could have seen that place in Italy or is it fictional too? He's got a way of drawing you in and taking you along for the ride and turning the page until you've reached the end of the novel and want for more. You'll just have to pick up a copy to find out more.
June 10, 2010
I consumed this book in one sitting. Looking back I'm not sure if I liked the book so much because I read it while on vacation at my parents cabin and loved being able to read all night, or because it was really that good :)
The story is obviously about a chair that is believed to have been Leonardo's. Towards the end I was reminded of the TV series 'The Outer Limits' because of the unbelievable gift and curse the chair carries.
I'm a sucker for a good historical fiction I guess. Good book.
The story is obviously about a chair that is believed to have been Leonardo's. Towards the end I was reminded of the TV series 'The Outer Limits' because of the unbelievable gift and curse the chair carries.
I'm a sucker for a good historical fiction I guess. Good book.
June 27, 2012
A novel that deals with issues of talent and gifts, the meaning of faith, and learning to be yourself. This was a book that I found hard to put down. The characters were enticing and complex, particularly the main character, Paul LeBont. There was intrigue and love, drama and debate in ideal measures. I truly recommend this book to all who who like a deeper read once in a while.
August 30, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. Different, easy to read, draws you in. And, if you are an artist, you will hear your ambition echoed in the characters. Wonderful read full of suspense, adventure, and a unique story line.
October 18, 2012
I picked this book up hoping it would be similar to Dan Brown's 'Davinci Code' full of art and mystery and I was disappointed. Too much religion for me and the story was not grabbing and I found it a little predictable.
January 28, 2009
Bought for a quarter.... worth less.
April 13, 2010
Very disappointed in this book. The title suggested unending possibilities for excitement; however, the writing style and ongoing references to Christianity just didn't work for me.
April 8, 2010
This novel is based on Christian views. Mostly a thriller and one of those books which I read in two days.
August 8, 2011
A quick, easy yarn with very little subtlety but a few thought provoking ideas, thoughts, concepts along the way!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews