Lisette and her husband move to the countryside to take care of his dying grandfather, Pascal and each time there is an event or upheaval in her life, she begins a list. Pascal had known many great painters through his work in the ochre quarries. Ochre was used for paint and also as a stabilizer for rubber.
When the German army invaded France, Andre hid Pascal's paintings given to him by Pissaro, Cezanne and many others. Lisette struggles to survive the war years with others from the small village and begins a quest to find the paintings after the end of WWII.
The book is packed with interesting historical facts and information about the painters.
Camille Pissaro moved to England during the Franco-Prussian war (between Napoleon III and Germany) and I have found many of his paintings interesting as he lived in my home town (Sydenham/Crystal Palace/Norwood) for a few years and painted artwork in that area. Near Sydenham Hill can be found in our local Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth.
The beautiful hillside town of Gordes was bombed when the French Resistance killed a German soldier, forcing people into their homes before dropping bombs on their houses.
Painter Marc Chagall writes a letter stating even though they escaped the Jewish persecution, his wife died due to lack of medication during their escape which was kept for soldiers. She died in New York of a throat infection.
Marshal Henri Petain announced his intention to sign an armistice (June 1940) with the Nazis and became a collaborator. Some believed it was to protect Paris and the historic buildings, but the Nazis soon looted the museums of paintings and stole statues. Their intention was to build a "super museum" for Hitler which would contain all the stolen works of art.
Widow's sewing patterns were used to make skirts from deconstructed men's trousers.
