Chapter 17: Altstadt – Summary and Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Gabriel Allon meets Anna Rolfe in her suite at the Mandarin Oriental in Munich. After sharing a bottle of expensive white burgundy, Anna flirts with Gabriel while he reveals his plan: six additional paintings looted by her father during the war have been hidden in a Swiss bank vault and later moved to her villa in Portugal. Gabriel intends to forge five of these paintings (a Modigliani, a Van Gogh, a Renoir, a Cézanne, and a Monet) and let Anna choose a sixth (she picks Toulouse-Lautrec). Anna will then place them with Edmond Ricard, an art dealer in the Geneva Freeport who recently possessed a Picasso stolen from Bernard Lévy during the German occupation. Two people connected to that Picasso have been murdered. Despite Anna’s romantic overtures, Gabriel remains committed to his wife Chiara, who is supposedly having an affair with a coffee boy named Gennaro as part of a ruse. Anna agrees to help, and Gabriel reveals he will also provide her with a new assistant—someone “pure trouble.”
Key Events
- Gabriel and Anna discuss her inherited collection of looted art, including six previously unknown paintings.
- Gabriel proposes forging those paintings and using them as bait to gain access to Edmond Ricard.
- Anna agrees to the scheme after learning that two people linked to the stolen Picasso have been killed.
- Gabriel deflects Anna’s persistent romantic advances, reaffirming his love for Chiara.
- Anna selects Toulouse-Lautrec as the sixth painting for Gabriel to forge.
- The chapter also notes the resignation of Lord Michael Radcliff and the imminent resignation of Prime Minister Hillary Edwards.
Character Development
Gabriel Allon: Demonstrates his strategic cunning by designing an elaborate forgery plan to infiltrate a criminal network. He remains emotionally resilient, resisting Anna’s flattery and loyalty to Chiara.
Anna Rolfe: Reveals both her wealth (her net worth may start with 2 billion) and her complicated feelings for Gabriel. Despite her flirtatious manner, she commits to the dangerous mission, showing courage and willingness to atone for her father’s past.
Gennaro / Giacomo: Mentioned only in passing as Chiara’s supposed lover; the ruse indicates an ongoing covert operation.
Edmond Ricard: Introduced as a dealer in stolen art, now a target of Gabriel’s forgery plot.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Looted Art and Restitution: The chapter centers on art stolen by Nazis and hidden for decades, raising questions about justice, ownership, and moral responsibility.
- Forgery as a Tool of Deception: Gabriel’s plan to paint fake masterpieces symbolizes how the art world’s trust can be weaponized.
- Love and Loyalty: Anna’s unrequited affection contrasts with Gabriel’s steadfast commitment to Chiara, highlighting personal integrity amid moral ambiguity.
- Wealth and Power: Anna’s immense fortune and her father’s banking legacy underscore how money can shield or enable criminal behavior.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 17 sets the core operation into motion. Gabriel shifts from investigation to active deception, using Anna’s inherited paintings as a key to infiltrate Edmond Ricard’s operation. The forgery plan raises the stakes and introduces the risk of direct confrontation with murderers. The personal dynamics between Gabriel and Anna add emotional depth, while the political subtext (UK government collapse) reinforces a world in flux. This chapter also clarifies Chiara’s “affair” as a ruse, maintaining the series’ hallmark of layered subterfuge.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Gabriel choose to forge the paintings rather than use real ones?
Gabriel likely lacks access to the actual six paintings (still hidden in Portugal) and cannot risk moving them through official channels. Forging them allows him to control the narrative and create a convincing trail that leads to Edmond Ricard without exposing Anna to legal jeopardy for concealing the originals.
2. What does Anna’s selection of Toulouse-Lautrec reveal about her character?
Her choice shows artistic knowledge and a playful side (she asks if Toulouse-Lautrec is in Gabriel’s repertoire and quips “no sheet music required”). It also implies she wants a personal signature on the plan, not merely following Gabriel’s lead.
3. How does the chapter reinforce Gabriel’s moral code despite his use of deception?
Gabriel refuses Anna’s overtures and reaffirms his love for Chiara, demonstrating personal fidelity. His goal is to return the stolen Picasso to its rightful heirs, not to profit from the forgeries. This distinguishes him from the criminals he targets, even as he employs their methods.