Scan barcode
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
Based on the true, but little known, story of the first renowned female artist during the Renaissance period, this is a captivating work of historical fiction. Sofonisba Anguisola (Sofi) studied under Michelangelo, though, as a woman, she was not allowed to draw the naked figure. Still, her reputation garnered her an invitation from King Felipe II of Spain to join his court as a drawing instructor for his young bride, Elisabeth of Valois, the daughter of King Henri II of France and his wife, Catherine de’ Medici.
I knew nothing about this extraordinary woman, and only a little about the court of King Felipe II. I had not realized the extent of his empire or how very powerful he was. I also was unaware of his relationship to the infamous Don Juan.
Cullen crafts a compelling story that includes intrigue, romance, mystery, politics and the frustration felt by a woman shackled by society’s conventions. Sofi is a strong woman: intelligent, observant, loyal, talented, and determined to live her own life. Her role in the novel, however, is mostly as observer to what is going on in the court, especially in regard to Elizabeth and her flirtations with Felipe’s son, Don Carlos, and with Don Juan.
The author’s notes at the end include more information about Sofonisba herself. I want to look up all her paintings now.
I knew nothing about this extraordinary woman, and only a little about the court of King Felipe II. I had not realized the extent of his empire or how very powerful he was. I also was unaware of his relationship to the infamous Don Juan.
Cullen crafts a compelling story that includes intrigue, romance, mystery, politics and the frustration felt by a woman shackled by society’s conventions. Sofi is a strong woman: intelligent, observant, loyal, talented, and determined to live her own life. Her role in the novel, however, is mostly as observer to what is going on in the court, especially in regard to Elizabeth and her flirtations with Felipe’s son, Don Carlos, and with Don Juan.
The author’s notes at the end include more information about Sofonisba herself. I want to look up all her paintings now.
jamiehandy's review against another edition
4.0
Entertaining to read. I loved reading about the Spanish court. I thought the convergance of issues -- the protestant reformation, the inquisition, the morality of the court, the complexity of the relationship were all very interesting to read.
My main problem was this -- I know that in historical fiction liberties are taken -- but I took exception with the one main liberty that the author uses as the central point to the whole plot-- and it is in the first 20 pages of the book -- that Sofi -- the artist who studied under Michaelangelo and signed all her paintings Sofi, the virgin -- was not a virgin.
That just seemed like she was "sullying" the true facts of Sofi's life. Dirtying her reputation at a time in history where your sexual status was the crux of your reputation. If the author had any evidence at all of an improper sexual relationship then I could see including it in your historical fiction, but when no such evidence is presented well it just didn't sit well with me.
An equally interesting story could have been told preserving Sofi's virtue -- and I feel should have. Think of how intriguing Anne Bolyn is for not immediately sleeping with Henry VIII.
If Sofi -- felt so proud of her virtue that she signed her paintings recognising it -- then how can a writer in good conscience make her out to be less than that -- to me it is taking historical fiction too far.
And so I had to ask myself, WHY???? and I think she did it to make the character Sofi appeal more to the "loose" morality of readers of today. But it had the opposite affect on me. If you are going to do historical fiction, I think you need to be true to the time period. And actually value what they valued.
I just felt like 21st century morality was superimposed on a 16th century time.
My main problem was this -- I know that in historical fiction liberties are taken -- but I took exception with the one main liberty that the author uses as the central point to the whole plot-- and it is in the first 20 pages of the book -- that Sofi -- the artist who studied under Michaelangelo and signed all her paintings Sofi, the virgin -- was not a virgin.
That just seemed like she was "sullying" the true facts of Sofi's life. Dirtying her reputation at a time in history where your sexual status was the crux of your reputation. If the author had any evidence at all of an improper sexual relationship then I could see including it in your historical fiction, but when no such evidence is presented well it just didn't sit well with me.
An equally interesting story could have been told preserving Sofi's virtue -- and I feel should have. Think of how intriguing Anne Bolyn is for not immediately sleeping with Henry VIII.
If Sofi -- felt so proud of her virtue that she signed her paintings recognising it -- then how can a writer in good conscience make her out to be less than that -- to me it is taking historical fiction too far.
And so I had to ask myself, WHY???? and I think she did it to make the character Sofi appeal more to the "loose" morality of readers of today. But it had the opposite affect on me. If you are going to do historical fiction, I think you need to be true to the time period. And actually value what they valued.
I just felt like 21st century morality was superimposed on a 16th century time.
natashia8911's review against another edition
5.0
A very nice audio book. Interesting depiction of the characters and their story. I appreciated the historical facts and comparisons of the author's note as well.
themyskira's review against another edition
2.0
Sofonisba Anguissola was one of the first great female painters of the Renaissance, and a truly fascinating woman, so I was immediately interested when I came upon this book, which tells of Sofonisba's time in the court of King Philip II of Spain. However, although it's evident that Lynn Cullen has researched the people and the period extensively, her story failed to capture me. I found it difficult to develop a lot of attachment to the characters, most of whom were very one-note, and quickly tired of Sofi's self-pitying fretting over the intentions of the secret lover she left behind in Rome. For the most part, she's simply an observer, providing the reader with a window onto a royal love triangle that's ultimately not all that interesting.
True, Cullen is does a decent job of drawing the reader into the intrigues of the court, with each chapter dangling new hints of unsavoury secrets, hidden scandal and forbidden love-- but it all ultimately became a bit soapy for my tastes, and by the novel's climax I might have grumbled an "oh, for fuck's sake." If you're looking for an exploration of characters, of the story of Sofonisba Anguissola, of the experience of female artists during the Renaissance... I'd suggest looking elsewhere.
True, Cullen is does a decent job of drawing the reader into the intrigues of the court, with each chapter dangling new hints of unsavoury secrets, hidden scandal and forbidden love-- but it all ultimately became a bit soapy for my tastes, and by the novel's climax I might have grumbled an "oh, for fuck's sake." If you're looking for an exploration of characters, of the story of Sofonisba Anguissola, of the experience of female artists during the Renaissance... I'd suggest looking elsewhere.
git_r_read's review against another edition
5.0
My review below from 2010 stands. I love this story even more after a reread as an audiobook.
++++++
This book left me breathless. If you read my blog very often, you know that I don't typically 'do' historical fiction. It's not to say that I don't like it, it's just that the historical fiction books don't grab my attention as quickly as a mystery or paranormal books so the wandering finger as I trace out the titles choosing my next read will skim right on over the big 600 page tomes that are the norm for HF.
I won this from LibraryThing Early Reviewer, my first book win from them, from the January choices. I thought the premise looked very interesting and I was glad to win the book and to be proved correct.
It's a fantastic story based on a true occurrence. I think the Renaissance period of art history is my favorite. Sofonisba Anguissola was an artist who studied with Michelangelo for a time, but a perceived scandal and romance with a fellow artist sent her running home and then to the Spanish court to teach the new Queen of Spain how to paint and draw. It was mostly as a diversion due to her youth as the King was busy ruling half of the world and had no time for his young bride from France.
Sofi becomes the Queen's best friend in Court which had its positive bend and negative. She was at the Queen's beck and call which kept Sofi busy and her heart and mind occupied from dwelling too much on her love, Tiberio. It also kept her too busy to study her other love, painting. She was a woman, so couldn't be thought of as a serious artist. Her paintings and portraits mostly went unsigned or signed by other (male) artists.
The kicker was the constant intrigue of the Spanish court. All of the backstabbing and catfighting, though couched in kid gloves, was never-ending. I'd have been exhausted each day and someone would have been bitch-slapped. I'd not have lasted long back in the day of the royal Courts I would imagine.
Lynn Cullen's written imagery was spectacular and put me right in the time and place of sixteenth-century Spain. My face squinched each time the condesa de Uruena stuck her pomander filled with civet to her nose. I could see the scenery of the Spanish countryside and hear the barking dogs or the clatter of the banquet hall.
Five Renaissance diamonds.....
++++++
This book left me breathless. If you read my blog very often, you know that I don't typically 'do' historical fiction. It's not to say that I don't like it, it's just that the historical fiction books don't grab my attention as quickly as a mystery or paranormal books so the wandering finger as I trace out the titles choosing my next read will skim right on over the big 600 page tomes that are the norm for HF.
I won this from LibraryThing Early Reviewer, my first book win from them, from the January choices. I thought the premise looked very interesting and I was glad to win the book and to be proved correct.
It's a fantastic story based on a true occurrence. I think the Renaissance period of art history is my favorite. Sofonisba Anguissola was an artist who studied with Michelangelo for a time, but a perceived scandal and romance with a fellow artist sent her running home and then to the Spanish court to teach the new Queen of Spain how to paint and draw. It was mostly as a diversion due to her youth as the King was busy ruling half of the world and had no time for his young bride from France.
Sofi becomes the Queen's best friend in Court which had its positive bend and negative. She was at the Queen's beck and call which kept Sofi busy and her heart and mind occupied from dwelling too much on her love, Tiberio. It also kept her too busy to study her other love, painting. She was a woman, so couldn't be thought of as a serious artist. Her paintings and portraits mostly went unsigned or signed by other (male) artists.
The kicker was the constant intrigue of the Spanish court. All of the backstabbing and catfighting, though couched in kid gloves, was never-ending. I'd have been exhausted each day and someone would have been bitch-slapped. I'd not have lasted long back in the day of the royal Courts I would imagine.
Lynn Cullen's written imagery was spectacular and put me right in the time and place of sixteenth-century Spain. My face squinched each time the condesa de Uruena stuck her pomander filled with civet to her nose. I could see the scenery of the Spanish countryside and hear the barking dogs or the clatter of the banquet hall.
Five Renaissance diamonds.....
sde's review against another edition
3.0
I wish I knew more about the historical time period before I read this book. I think I would have gotten more out of it. When I finally found the genealogical chart at the front of the book, it helped a lot (except for the typo that had the Queen giving birth to her first child at age 11. For a while I wondered if the Queen had a secret child that would be revealed later.)
I found the beginning and the end to be very interesting, but parts of the middle dragged on - boring palace intrigue, description of the Queen's gowns, etc. Maybe that was part of the point - these were very privileged people, but their lives were so prescribed that they were incredibly dull.
I was excited to learn that Sofi was a real historical person. I had no idea that there were any famous female artists in Europe in the 16th century. I definitely want to learn more about her.
I found the beginning and the end to be very interesting, but parts of the middle dragged on - boring palace intrigue, description of the Queen's gowns, etc. Maybe that was part of the point - these were very privileged people, but their lives were so prescribed that they were incredibly dull.
I was excited to learn that Sofi was a real historical person. I had no idea that there were any famous female artists in Europe in the 16th century. I definitely want to learn more about her.
sonia921's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting story. I think I liked the historical notes better than the book itself though.
nikkiiiii0106's review against another edition
4.0
This is probably a 4.4 star for me.
I really liked this book, reading it as she discuss being a female painter in that era and seeing the Queen and King's relationship from a semi-outsider. I think this was really amazing and I really liked it.
I really liked this book, reading it as she discuss being a female painter in that era and seeing the Queen and King's relationship from a semi-outsider. I think this was really amazing and I really liked it.
dannb's review against another edition
4.0
I waivered between a 3 and a 4....historical fiction (mid 16th century Europe.) Sofonisba Anguissola...a real painter (a woman no less!) who spends a decade or so in the Spanish court. More about the intrigue of court life than Sofi's influence as a painter...fairly accurate relationships amongst the royals and Sofi, based on what I could discover....
However...it really starts to drag late in the book and then slams to a stop. All in all....I enjoyed reading the book. (Many compare this to The Other Boleyn Girl....much less of a 'bodice ripper.')
However...it really starts to drag late in the book and then slams to a stop. All in all....I enjoyed reading the book. (Many compare this to The Other Boleyn Girl....much less of a 'bodice ripper.')