Great book with lots of insights into what a great salesman can do. ( )

Elegantly written New Yorker profile, an account of the art dealer who realized that Europeans had fine collections of art but needed cash, while American millionaires would pay good money for art that would give them class and that they they could leave as their legacy. He carefully groomed his buyers and made sure they understood he was the only dealer who could get them the finest works. I grew up going to the Huntington Library in San Marino so I especially enjoyed the account of how Duveen obtained it for H. E. Huntington, after he saw a reproduction of it and realized he had to own it. Duveen just happened to have contacts who let him know that the Duke of Westminster might be persuaded to sell..... ( )

This volume kindled Mrs Mondale's interest in the visual arts.