The Masterpiece

 The Masterpiece written by. Fiona Davis, is. almost exactly that.  Fiona Davis is one of my favorite historical novelist .  This novel is beautiful portrait of the history of Grand Central Station in New York. City and the art school that existed within its walls.

Using real artists from the time period as her inspiration to create her characters, Clara Darden and Levon Zakarian.  Davis paints with bold, broad strokes to develop the storyline of a woman who is trying to break into a man's world as a serious artist.

Clara has left everything behind to become a painter in New York.  She becomes an art teacher at the Grand Central Art School and is also illustrating advertisements for lingerie and cars.  She wants to be taken seriously. as an artist which is hard to do in the 1920s , it is a man's career. 

Levon is a well known artist and popular teacher at the school, with his help Clara is offered more opportunities.  They have a challenging relationship between. them.  Clara is also pursued by Oliver, an up and coming poet, who also helps Clara get established.

Davis also sketches out the lives of Virginia and her daughter Ruby who are living in New York. in the present day.  Newly divorced trying to make it on her own and keep her daughter happy is difficult.   She has a new apartment and. needs to find a job.   She ends up at the information booth in Grand Central Station.  Ruby has dropped out of Sarah Lawrence and does not want to go to college. Virginia and Ruby need to find themselves and reconnect with. each other.  

The building is in disrepair and there is a lawsuit pending to knock it down and build a skyscraper on top of it.   Virginia gets involved and becomes passionate about saving the building.   She brings Ruby along with her and they find something in common.  The building can save a woman, a family relationship. and even more.  The finished painting of this book is wonderful, you will stand looking at it on the wall, examining it from different angles and metaphors even after you finish reading it.