Brush with Fate

BASED ON THE NOVEL "GIRL IN HYACINTH BLUE" Inspired by love, sold in desperation, bought in passion and stolen in greed: this priceless masterpiece has played a pivotal role in the lives of everyone who has owned it. As he settles into his new job at an American prep school, an art teacher, (Thomas Gibson) is approached by a reclusive historian Cornelia Engelbrecht (Glenn Close) who believes he alone will appreciate a secret treasure she has long guarded - an unknown Vermeer painting. Although Richard is overwhelmed by its beauty, he doubts its authenticity. How could such a masterpiece be hidden for centuries? Drawing upon a lifetime of singularly focused devotion to its history, Cornelia reveals the secrets behind the mystery of "Girl in Hyacinth Blue." From the moment three centuries ago when an impoverished Dutch artist painted the beautiful image of his daughter seated at an open window, the legendary masterpiece has been admired, coveted and pursued by its owners - from impoverished farmers to a wealthy society woman (Ellen Burstyn). All forever entwined in its legacy and unknowing participants in its future. (official distributor synopsis)