The Shape of Illusion

When Kirk Donner—a renowned painter—and three of his friends are summoned to Lorenson Galleries to view a mysterious seventeen-century painting, their lives are changed forever. For, in the masterpiece portraying the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, they all see their own condemning faces on the canvas. Impossible? Trickery? Sorcery? Searching for answers, Kirk travels to the artist's place of birth, the small town of Friedheim in Germany, where the locals still enact a Passion Play every ten years. But, instead of gaining answers, he encounters the promise of love and hope.

A man sees his image in a 300 year old painting and goes from the US to Germany to find out the origins of the painter. He meets a woman there, finds out a little background about the painter, returns to NY and then the book ends.

Sounds kinda petty, summarized like that... but it's a good story; makes you want to see where it's going. And, although it has a religious subtext, it's ultimately about discovering freedom (individuality, independence, life?) in art.

Written in a style similar to Daphne Du Maurier, this is the tale of a mysterious painting in which everyone seems to see their own portrait baring their darkest soul.