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The group has decided to keep meeting at the Modular during expansion of the Whiteford branch library, although the location may change to adapt to building needs.

The group enjoyed The Lost Painting, which is the true story of the quest for the Caravaggio masterpiece known as the "Taking of Christ." Graduate student, Francesca Cappeletti stumbles across some clues pointing to the missing painting. The story reads smoothly as if it were fiction and feels like a treasure hunt as the main participants research clues in old family vaults, examines records in Art galleries and old catalogs from auction houses, and tracks down papal export licenses in Rome. The puzzle finally comes together when Francesca meets Sergio Benedetti, an art restorer working in Ireland.

The group enjoyed the search, marveling that it was a true story, but also enjoyed the technical information of how an old painting is restored , which even in the 1990’s could include homemade paste made from flour, vinegar, ox skull and molasses. Interspersed , there was also information about the artist Caravaggio. His life and art was intense and at times violent, but definitely exciting. The group decided that The Lost Painting was definitely a volume that they would suggest to others. Although the discovery actually occurred in the late 1990’s, because of the old family homes and European flavor, the book had an older feel to it. They also noted that the research required a lot of patience and sifting through old files but also a matter of luck in the end.

The Lost Painting was originally chosen, as a companion book to a previously read novel. Several months ago the group had read a mystery entitled The Art Thief by Noah Charney, a mystery dealing with art theft and double crosses. This fictional escapade started with the disappearance of Malevich’s "White on White" from the Paris vault of the Malevich society and spread to several more thefts in 3 different cities. During this search an array of forgeries and overpaintings come to light including a very valuable painting by Caravaggio. So part of that discussion and last night’s included looking at art books to examine, at first Malevich’s and then Caravaggio’s works.