Booklist
LaFond's novel re-creates the life story of Alessandra Lippi, daughter of the famous Italian renaissance painter Fra Lippo Lippi and goddaughter of Sandro Botticelli. Through Alessandra's eyes, LaFond gives us a fascinating glimpse into the world of art during one of Europe's most creative periods and the political and religious upheavals that shaped the art of this time. Alessandra, who works as one of Botticelli's models, meets Fra Diamante, Michelangelo, Lorenzo Medici, Amerigo Vespucci, and even the fanatic monk Savanarola, whose "bonfires of the vanities" were responsible for the destruction of countless works of art. LaFond's descriptions of Florence and Prato are captivating, and her detailed portrait of Renaissance Italy is delightful. The only jarring notes are the brief historical discussions that interrupt the narrative and seldom add to the story; readers would have been better served if they'd been collected into an afterword. LaFond's novel is, however, ideal for students of the Renaissance and anyone who enjoys historical fiction that entertains as well as educates. Bonnie Johnston
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Booklist
"LaFond gives us a fascinating glimpse into the world of art during one of Europe's most creative periods."
