Secrets of Art (Hardcover)

Full of surprises, discoveries, forgotten treasures, and lost stories, Secrets of Art takes the reader on a journey through the mysterious world of art, showing that works are not always as they seem.

A long-lost masterpiece hidden in the Tower of London comes to light. A code, which only a select few can understand, is concealed within a painting. A ghostly image hidden beneath a portrait stands out. Author, historian, and art detective Debra N. Mancoff unravels these and many similar stories, demystifying the codes used by Leonardo da Vinci, Vermeer, and Caravaggio. She uncovers the layers of meaning in the paintings of Van Gogh, Picasso, and Dali, and provides a deep insight into the works of Frida Kahlo, Kara Walker, and Marina Abramovic.

Utilizing findings from new technology, archival research, scientific analysis, and old-fashioned curiosity, Secrets of Art reveals the mysterious meanings of famous masterpieces, which, though as captivating as fiction, are part of a collection of stories based entirely on real data.

Debra N. Mancoff received her Ph.D. in Art History from Northwestern University and taught at the Art Institute of Chicago. She is currently a visiting scholar at the Newberry Library in Chicago. Mancoff, who writes for The Art Quarterly, The Royal Academy Magazine, and The Art Newspaper, is also the author of many books on both European and American art and culture.