An Object of Beauty (2010) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

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Characters/People edit see section history

• Lacey Yeager: An young, independent woman working in the art world of New York. She is so ambitious that she is willing to do almost whatever it takes to make money or make a deal. Although she is very attractive, Lacey does not like to hold long-term serious relationships with men.
• Barton Talley: Lacey's employer in a New York gallery.
• Patrice Claire: He lives in Paris, but dates Lacey. He is very wealthy and flies in to see her. He loves her more than she loves him.
• Tanya Ross: A co-worker of Lacey's, eventually dates the narrator.
• Hinton Alberg: Super rich art collector
• Donna: Receptionist at Talley's gallery.
• Milton Avery: Add a description of this character.
• Angela
• Saul
• Sharon
• Maxfield Parrish
• Cornelia
• Jonah Marsh: A "cute" deejay that was Lacey's lover
• Belinda
• Daniel Chester French Franks: An art critic and writer. The narrator of the novel.
• Eduardo Flores
• Christie
• Rothko
• Vermeer
• Brooke
• Carey
• Andy Warhol
• Gayle Smiley
• Peto
• Van Gogh
• Chelsea
• Heath Acosta: coworker of Lacey at Sothebys - head of European paintings. Mid 30s; foreing looking
• Ben
• Matisse
• Truman
• Cherry Finch: Coworker of Lacay at Sothebys. Head of American Paintings department

Quotes edit see section history

• “The object was not for sale, not for trade; it had already ascended. It was for them only, to be seen by them only, as though the artist himself had placed it before them, a holy thing.”

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• If Cubism was speaking from the intellect, and Abstract Expressionism was speaking from the psyche, then Pop was speaking from the unbrain, and just to drive home the point, its leader Warhol closely resembled a zombie.

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• I have found that—just as in real life—imagination sometimes has to stand in for experience.

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• The theory of relativity certainly applies to art: just as gravity distorts space, an important collector distorts aesthetics. The difference is that gravity distorts space eternally, and a collector distorts aesthetics for only a few years.

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• Provenance, subject matter, rarity, and perfection made a painting not just a painting, but a prize.

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• When Lacey began these computations, her toe crossed ground from which it is difficult to return: she started converting objects of beauty into objects of value.

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• Art as an aesthetic principle was supported by thousands of years of discernment and psychic rewards, but art as a commodity was held up by air.

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• Lacey was just as happy alone as with company. When she was alone, she was potential; with others she was realized.

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• “And the reflection… well, I guess the reflection represents art. It’s what lies between our dreams and reality.”

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• But sometimes money falls like light snow on open palms, and sometimes it falls stinging and hard from ominous clouds.

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• prestidigitation. No one had seen her sleights except her and me, and I was bound to silence by complicity.

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Setting & Locations edit see section history

• New York
• Manhattan
• Paris
• Boston
• Atlanta
• Russia
• Los Angeles
• Europe
• America
• Madison Avenue
• Connecticut
• West Side
• Miami
• Stockbridge, Massachusetts: Where Franks was born and also the town of Norman Rockwell.
• Guggenheim Muesum, New York City: Landmark building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
• Hermitage, St. Petersburg, Russia

First Sentence edit see section history

Glossary edit see section history

• prestidigitation: slight of hand
• codger: An often mildly eccentric and usually elderly fellow
• persnickety: fussy about small details, having the characteristics of a snob

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Steve Martin (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Awards edit see section history

• Nobbie Award (2010)

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: PS3563.A7293035 2010
• Dewey: 813'.54

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Add a note to help parents select a book for a child.

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Literature & Fiction › Literary