Comment | I'm trying my hand at writing an art historical novel—it is the best training in looking I’ve ever set myself
After 20 years of writing non-fiction books, the art historian Bendor Grosvenor is working on a Stuart-era sleuthing novel
Bendor Grosvenor, a British art historian, writer, and broadcaster, has penned a diary blog discussing contemporary art issues. His forthcoming 2024 book, "The Invention of British Art," will be published in paperback without the 200 images of the hardcover edition. He faces the difficult decision of which paintings to describe more fully and which to omit entirely.
An audiobook version will require a different approach, emphasizing describing objects without image references. Simultaneously, Grosvenor is attempting his first art historical fiction novel set in London during the 1630s, featuring the detective Anthony van Dyck. He believes artists excel as detectives due to their unique perspective and ability to uncover deception.
The Stuart court's themes of conflict, intrigue, mystery, and treason provide ample material for his narrative. While Charles I doesn't offer as much sexual content as Henry VIII, the period is rich in artistic disputes. Grosvenor acknowledges the difficulty of transitioning from non-fiction, where facts provide structure, to the more flexible and guiding nature of fiction.
The novel's greatest challenge lies in "show, don't tell," requiring him to paint vivid images solely with words. Despite uncertainties about its eventual publication, Grosvenor finds immense value in this multifaceted writing endeavor, comparing it to a pilgrimage in search of prehistoric rock art in northern England to enhance the prestige of an upcoming exhibition at London's Warburg Institute.
Written by urgent.news from The Art Newspaper's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
