The bestselling author Dan Brown kept readers reading. They could not put down the books of the famous scribe…
But, just as easy to parody as he is to read, Brown stuck around proving himself no one-hit wonder. Despite being preposterous nonsense that’s the literary equivalent of crack, he’s found his niche and hasn’t let go. Wes Anderson directs wry picture-book films, Dan Brown writes conspiracy-laden travelogue popcorn potboilers.
Another particular aspect I like is the art. So, let’s examine six notable works from the Robert Langdon series.
Da Vinci Code (2003) – Mona Lisa: Leonardo Da Vinci, 1503 – 1506
View on Amazon.comA headache for Louvre curators since hitting the shelves, we start with an easy one from the Da Vinci Code: the Mona Lisa (I mean, it’s right on the cover).
Arriving in Paris the intrepid symbologist Robert Langdon is urged to solve the secret of the Mona Lisa painting. I’m going to refrain from spoilers in this article, but if you know you know at this point (there isn’t a charity shop you won’t see this lurking in after all). Needless to say, there’s been a murder and there’s something Mona isn’t telling us.
Is she, is she smirking at us?
Inferno (2013) – Horses of St. Mark’s: Classical Greece Origin, likely 2nd–3rd century AD
View on Amazon.comRiddles and puzzles galore await Mr. Langdon on another scavenger hunt, this time after he wakes up with short-term amnesia in a Florence hospital. With an assassin on his tail and global threats looming, he’s up against the clock once more on another epic European scavenger hunt.
Some people would pay good money for this.
Catching everyone’s breath in Venice in St. Mark’s Square, we get to check out the four bronze Horses of St. Mark. While Langdon only gets a glimpse of the replicas outside, you can head into the basilica to see the real deals, now protected indoors.
And just around the corner, is Harry’s Bar where you can sip one of Hemingway’s Bellinis. Just be careful of the price tag.
Angels and Demons (2000) – Ecstasy of Saint Teresa: Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1652
View on Amazon.comI’ve got to be honest here; this one took me a little longer. Brown’s formula was starting to wear on me a little, but it makes sense considering this was his first Robert Langdon novel. He was only just finding his footing, so I’ll cut him some slack.
Racing across a classical European city—a staple of the novels to follow—here Rome is our destination of choice. Set around the Vatican complete with antimatter, hadron colliders, and popes flying every which way, it takes its time to provide a scenic tour of the city. And it’s the Ecstasy of Saint Teresa located in the Cornaro Chapel of the Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria I’d like to point out.
The statue itself depicts St. Teresa of Avila being pierced through the heart by an angel. While there are definitely some passionate undertones (she’s very much in a state of bliss), it’s the lighting that foreshadows the themes of the novel. This ‘inner light’ then becomes crucial later on.
You can, of course, take a book-themed tour of Rome yourself. Don’t worry, you’ve got time.
The Lost Symbol (2009) – The Apotheosis of Washington: Constantino Brumidi, 1865
View on Amazon.comThis time Robert Langdon’s on home turf, as he races around Washington solving another earth-shattering riddle. And, following the abduction of his friend and mentor, it’s the Freemasons that are now under the spotlight. What secrets lie in wait under America’s capital? How did the nation truly begin? And is he wearing his Mickey Mouse watch again?
On his breakneck tour in, out, and under Washington DC, Robert Langdon pauses in rooms to let us know what’s what. Here, it’s the Apotheosis of Washington, the fresco that covers the inside of the United States Capitol Building Rotunda dome. Painted by Constantino Brumidi in 1865, it depicts George Washington ascending to the heavens.
So fairly modest.
Also noteworthy because Washington was a known mason…Oh no, I’ve said too much!
Origin (2017) – Head On: Cai Guo-Qiang, 2006
View on Amazon.comNow it’s off to the Guggenheim, where several thought-provoking installations await. Don’t worry that the earth might implode if you don’t hurry; please stop for a moment looking to your left. Here you’ll find Cai Guo-Qiang’s Head On, a masterpiece conveying herd mentality with ninety-nine stuffed wolves rushing headfirst into a glass wall.
Saving the world can wait.
Though only remarked upon briefly in the novel, the installation is a powerful reflection of its core themes. It serves as a stark metaphor for a less-than-salient part of human nature: a pack blindly following its leader to collective demise. Origin grapples with religion and humanity’s future, and this piece perfectly sets the template.
Where are we going? Where are we from? And are we, in essence, collectively jumping off a cliff?
The Secret of Secrets (2025) – Baroque Library Hall, Clementinum: Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer, 1722
View on Amazon.comYes, this is architectural, but it still feels relevant. A work of art in and of itself, this classically baroque library is beautiful to visit. A must for anyone visiting Prague, for me it’s up there with the Trinity Library. It’s here that, racing across another European city (like he does), Robert Langdon takes a moment to hide out in the ornate library, catching his breath.
The book itself is Brown back to form, doing what he does best: writing pulpy quasi-religious thrillers. This time round, with it being in people’s minds, he heads into the world of neural tech. Overall, it’s goofy fun, taking it beyond the realms of sci-fi and into mystical dimensions. He does underpin it with philosophical questions about the nature of consciousness, something I personally find interesting.
I will say his references to real-world figures (like Musk) without so much as a nod to the ‘news’ surrounding them felt jarring, as if it were from another (simpler) time and place. Still, it combines science and history well (with some woo-woo thrown in for good effect).
What are some of your favorite artworks from the Robert Langdon series? Should we have included some others? Let us know below.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A lifelong lover of quality storytelling, Sam grew up in rural England with little else but reading (okay, and some gaming). Starting with Charlotte's Web, he developed a passion for ghost stories and comedy. With his background in narrative and scriptwriting, he writes for Book Notification, providing recommendations both good and not so terrible.