The Shape of Illusion Author:William E. Barrett The painting was just as mysterious as the New York art dealer had promised. The work of an obscure German artist, the scene showed Christ leaving the palace of Pontius Pilate under a guard of Roman soldiers forcing their way through a stone-throwing mob. There was no doubt that it was a true masterpiece of Renaissance art. But for the four peop... more »le who gathered to view it, the picture possessed a quality that was absolutely unique: As each of them looked upon it he found himself clearly depicted as one of the howling mob.
A young man's search for the secret of the strange genius who created that seemingly magical painting leads him to a beautiful, and perfectly intact medieval town in Germany, and, finally, to the discovery of the most precious gift a person can receive.« less