this historical fiction story takes place in the early renaissance period of the late 1400's. i was drawn to it for both the historical fiction genre and the time period. anything about art works for me. i was less than enthralled early in the book but at some point things really turned around for me and i was swept into the taut narrative. the characters range from the ladies at the convent to the politically powerful italian men who ran things, to a love affair between a novitiate and a prominent artist. this is a good read.
This tale of Renaissance Italy was written "as a testament to the incredible love between a cloistered woman and the extraordinary painter-monk who left behind some of the most beautiful artwork of all time." Fra Filippo Lippi falls in love with his model Lucrezia Buto who was sequestered among the nuns of Santa Margherita after the death of her father. This fate was not uncommon in an age when women without funds were at the mercy of unhappy decisions made for them. But to fall in love with a painter and have an illicit affair brought difficulties unimagined. The novel strikes a good balance between reality (the piety of the age; the excitement of the time; and the world of art) and a heartfelt romance. The summary above says it better than I.
