A 16th-century Milanese beauty and a WWII-era art conservator find their destinies intertwined by a single Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece. In 1492 Milan, Cecilia Gallerani, the Duke's new mistress, navigates courtly intrigue and seeks to secure her position while sitting for Leonardo da Vinci's ambitious portrait, 'Lady with an Ermine.' Five centuries later in Munich during World War II, a conservator's unwitting placement of the same painting into the hands of a Nazi leader ignites a dangerous mission to recover it, aided by an American Monuments Man. Their parallel quests for agency and preservation unfold against the backdrop of tumultuous historical events.

This novel has been recognized as a USA Today Bestseller, with praise highlighting its originality and its place within historical fiction. Reviewers have noted the compelling dual-timeline narrative that connects the creation of a famous artwork with its wartime preservation. The story is commended for its intricate plot, weaving together the lives of two women across centuries who are central to the fate of Leonardo da Vinci's 'Lady with an Ermine.' The novel effectively balances the historical settings of Renaissance Milan and WWII-era Munich, exploring themes of art, destiny, and female agency.