Da Vinci's Tiger - Softcover

Elliott, L. M.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 006074426X ISBN 13: 9780060744267

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books, 2017

Synopsis

For fans of rich and vivid historical novels like Girl with a Pearl Earring and Code Name Verity, Laura Malone Elliott delivers the stunning tale of real-life Renaissance woman Ginevra de' Benci, the inspiration for one of Leonardo da Vinci's earliest masterpieces. 

The young and beautiful daughter of a wealthy family, Ginevra longs to share her poetry and participate in the artistic ferment of Renaissance Florence but is trapped in an arranged marriage in a society dictated by men.

The arrival of the charismatic Venetian ambassador, Bernardo Bembo, introduces Ginevra to a dazzling circle of patrons, artists, and philosophers. Bembo chooses Ginevra as his Platonic muse and commissions a portrait of her by a young Leonardo da Vinci.

Posing for the brilliant painter inspires an intimate connection between them, one Ginevra only begins to understand.

In a rich and vivid world of exquisite art with a dangerous underbelly of deadly political feuds, Ginevra faces many challenges to discover her voice and artistic companionship—and to find love.

About this title

About the Author:

L. M. Elliott is the New York Times bestselling author of Da Vinci’s Tiger; Under a War-Torn Sky; A Troubled Peace; Across a War-Tossed Sea; Annie, Between the States; Give Me Liberty; Flying South; and Hamilton and Peggy! She lives in Virginia with her family. You can visit her online at www.lmelliott.com.

From School Library Journal:

Gr 8 Up—Set during the Renaissance, when Florence celebrated art, philosophy, and poetry with fervor, this historical fiction title is about Ginevra de' Benci, a 17-year-old married woman who is stifled by societal norms. Then she meets Bernardo Bembo, the ambassador from Venice, who is so taken by Ginevra's intellect and poetic talent that he asks her to be his Platonic Love. In an era where marriages were business arrangements, it wasn't uncommon for wealthy men to bestow admiration upon married women through a chaste romance. To proclaim his platonic love for Ginevra, Bembo commissions her portrait by the up-and-coming artist Leonardo da Vinci. As Ginevra and Leonardo form a profound friendship, Ginevra comes of age in a city full of art, beauty, and violent family feuds. This is an intriguing, albeit leisurely paced, story about a real historical figure, the subject of Leonardo da Vinci's early portrait of a Florentine socialite. As is evident from the book's afterword, Elliott meticulously researched the 15th century to bring alive the affluence, art, and clothing Florence was known for—fully immersing readers in the time period. In many ways, this novel is a feminist piece. Ginevra lives during a time in which the only way for women to study philosophy and art was in a convent, and once married, women had little to no formal education, as they became the property of their husbands. Breaking this mold, Ginevra learns that her empowerment comes from within, despite the limitations put on her sex. VERDICT Add this gem to round out collections skewed toward 20th-century history.—Kimberly Garnick Giarratano, Rockaway Township Public Library, NJ

About this edition

• Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 006074426X
• ISBN 13: 9780060744267
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 320