The Vanitas & Other Tales of Art and Obsession

An illustrated short story collection that reimagines the psyche of history's most famous artists and their obsession for creation—with art styles such as Cubism, Surrealism, and the Baroque skilfully crafted into the prose.

How far would you go for the sake of art?

In these 8 illustrated short stories, Monet, Van Gogh, Gericault and others navigate the boundary between art and experience through masterfully written prose that reflects each artist's style. The collection culminates with "The Vanitas", where Sandro Signorelli's philosophy that a lifetime of faith and toil shall receive its just reward is challenged by the emergence of a new artist. Across town, Michelangelo Mersi is making seismic waves. The city of Rome cannot help but be captivated by this explosive eruption of talent, swagger, seduction, and violence, while Sandro's life is plunged into crisis by a rival who does not even know his name.

Jake Kendall's collections spans 300 years of art history to tell the stories of those with an obsession for creation—artists who sacrifice friendships, careers, romance, and even their own happiness in pursuit of a vision.