A very Old Master by Grant Allen
The story follows a young man named George who inherits an old painting from his uncle and discovers that it has magical powers. The painting allows him to travel back in time and experience the lives of the people depicted in it. As he becomes more involved with the characters, he begins to question his own identity and place in the world.
By Grant Allen · First published 1893 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, Adventure · 6,074 words
First lines
The work of art which lies before me is old, unquestionably old; a good deal older, in fact, than Archbishop Ussher (who invented all out of his own archiepiscopal head the date commonly assigned for the creation of the world) would by any means have been ready to admit. It is a bas-relief by an old master, considerably more antique in origin than the most archaic gem or intaglio in the Museo Borbonico at Naples, the mildly decorous Louvre in Paris, or the eminently respectable British Museum, which is the glory of our own smoky London in the spectacled eyes of German professors, all put together. When Assyrian sculptors carved in fresh white alabaster the flowing curls of Sennacherib's hair, just like a modern coachman's wig, this work of primaeval art was already hoary with the rime of ages.
What this Textopian page supports
A very Old Master is listed on Textopian as a short story by Grant Allen, dated 1893 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Grant Allen
- Date: 1893 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, Adventure, Anthropological Fiction, Philosophical Fiction
- Length: 6,074 words
- Structure: 1 section, 42 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A very Old Master by Grant Allen
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A very Old Master?
- How does this short story by Grant Allen fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Thousandth Woman by E. W. Hornung
- The Joy Seekers by Edgar Wallace
- A Fashionable Forger by Samuel Warren
- The Trespasser Volume 1 by Gilbert Parker
- The Paliser Case by Edgar Saltus
- The Shadow Of A Man by E. W. Hornung
Genres
- Historical Fiction — The narrative is set in a prehistoric era, exploring ancient art and human evolution, blending historical facts with fictional elements.
- Science Fiction — The story delves into speculative ideas about prehistoric life and human ancestry, incorporating scientific theories and imaginative reconstructions.
- Adventure — The exploration of ancient human life and survival in a prehistoric setting provides an adventurous backdrop.
- Anthropological Fiction — The book examines early human societies, their art, and their environment, focusing on anthropological insights.
Tags
art · mystery · historical · intrigue · suspense · detective · crime · investigation · painting · forgery · identity · secrets