It is widely thought that Lisa del Giocondo was the inspiration for Leonardo da Vinci's most famous painting The Mona Lisa. She was the wife of wealthy Florentine silk merchant Francesco del Giocondo. The painting is thought to have been commissioned for their new home, and to celebrate the birth of their second son, Andrea.
Imagine da Vinci's studio, bursting with genius imagination, towering commissions and demanding patrons, as well as discontented muses, friends and rivals, and in the midst of all this sits the painting of Mona Lisa. For five hundred tumultuous years, amid a whirlwind of power, money and intrigue, the portrait of Lisa del Giocondo was sought after and stolen.
Weaving through the years, the story takes us from the dazzling world of Florentine studios, via rivalry, murder and heartbreak, to the French courts at Fontainebleau and Versailles, and into the Twentieth Century.
Weaving through the years, the story takes us from the dazzling world of Florentine studios, via rivalry, murder and heartbreak, to the French courts at Fontainebleau and Versailles, and into the Twentieth Century.
This is the story of the painting narrated by the painting.
The majority of my book club friends didn’t like this, they thought a talking painting was silly, but I liked it. I thought the journey of the painting that Solomons created was quite clever.
The majority of my book club friends didn’t like this, they thought a talking painting was silly, but I liked it. I thought the journey of the painting that Solomons created was quite clever.
∼ Happy Reading∼
Polly x
It sounds like an interesting way to learn some art history :)
ReplyDeleteIt was Kylie
DeleteThat sounds intriguing and imaginative.
ReplyDeleteI thought so too.
DeleteI've read and enjoyed a couple of her books in the past, this one sounds curious - I shall investigate
ReplyDeleteThis is the first of her books I've read.
DeleteI thnk this sounds like a book that would be enjoyed as an audio book. Thanks, Polly, for the recommendation as I will check for it in the local library.
ReplyDeleteI agree Beatrice, it would make a good audio book.
Delete