Dani Heywood-Lonsdale’s debut novel, The Portrait Artist, is an art mystery set in Victorian England with hints of the supernatural and some similarities to Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray.
When a portrait of a Kunekune pig is left on the steps of the National Gallery in London one morning in 1890, it sends the art world into turmoil. Both the signature and the technique point to the artist being the mysterious Timothy Ponden-Hall, thought to have been dead for the last fifty years. Ponden-Hall, an explorer and painter, caused a sensation earlier in his career, when rumours spread that he had discovered the elixir of life during a sea voyage and was using it to bestow immortality on those who sat for his portraits. Does this new portrait mean the artist is still alive – and why has he started to paint again after so many decades of silence?
Art historian and Ponden-Hall expert Solomon Oak is brought in to investigate, but as he tries to interpret the new painting and its meaning, he makes some discoveries that cause him to question everything he thought he knew about the reclusive artist. Meanwhile Solomon’s daughter Alice has been befriended by Lou, the coachwoman, who gives her a job helping to deliver parcels. But why do their deliveries always take place under cover of darkness – and could Alice’s new job and new friend lead her to solve the mystery of Ponden-Hall before her father gets there first?
I enjoyed The Portrait Artist. My only problem with the book came towards the end, when the truth about Ponden-Hall was revealed. It wasn’t exactly a surprise – I had already at least partly guessed it – but it required a huge suspension of disbelief which was just too difficult for me to accept. Still, the story up to that point had been fascinating to follow. Solomon and Alice Oak are both characters I liked and I thought the complex relationship between them was handled well, with Alice feeling that she can never quite live up to the memory of her late sister Emma, who had been the closest to their father. Solomon, for his part, has to come to terms with Alice growing into a woman and not wanting to follow the path through life he has mapped out for her. Another interesting character is Grace, an artists’ model from a humble background who longs to be part of the world of academia and sees a possible route to that by involving herself in the Ponden-Hall mystery.
Heywood-Lonsdale explores a lot of different issues throughout the novel, including the idea of the dead being immortalised through art, both literally and figuratively; how adding to our knowledge of the artist and the sitter can change the way we view and appreciate a painting; and the difficulties of being of mixed race heritage in Victorian society. The supernatural element involving the question of whether youth can be preserved in a painting is mainly there to explain the level of mystique that has formed around Timothy Ponden-Hall and we can choose how much we want to believe.
Apart from my problems with the ending, I think this is an impressive first novel and I hope Dani Heywood-Lonsdale will write more.
Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing for providing a copy of this book for review via NetGalley.
She Reads Novels 
I love an art mystery. And the Victorian time period. And a bit of supernatural, too. This sounds like my kind of book…though what you said about the ending has me a little concerned. I hate when the ending ends up ruining the book.
The ending didn’t really spoil the rest of the book for me, but I did find it very difficult to believe!
I like an art mystery, too! Really intrigued about the ending… I have an idea of the kind of twist it might be, although I would love it if something supernatural is in play…
I guessed the twist quite early in the book, but was hoping I would be wrong as it was something I really struggled to believe. The rest of the book was good, though!
It’s a shame to hear about the ending as overall this sounds like it could be a really intriguing read. I always love books with an undercurrent of the supernatural to them and the rumors surrounding the artist sound fascinating too.
The ending didn’t spoil the book, but I would personally have preferred something more convincing. I enjoyed it overall and loved the hints of the supernatural.
Hello Helen, I am glad you thought this was an impressive first novel, even with the problem you had with ending. Hopefully this author can only improve.
Blessings, Jessica 💌
Yes, I’m looking forward to another book from this author. I did enjoy it, despite not being convinced by the ending!
I’m reading this at the moment and I have to say I’m very unconvinced by the portrayal of Victorian life – I’ve recently read several novels set in Oxford in the late 19th/early 20th centuries, and this just doesn’t ring true. But then I don’t care for supernatural intrusions into otherwise realistic novels, though I know lots of people do. Not sure if I’ll persevere, I have so many other books clamouring for my attention!
I don’t usually mind supernatural elements in realistic novels, although it depends on the author and how well they are handled. If you do continue with this one, I hope you find the ending more believable than I did!
I do love art history novels! Will keep an eye out for this one!
Thanks for sharing this review with the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge.
I like art history stories too, so was immediately drawn to this one.