Vanishing Point

In lush, glowing prose, Louise Hawes’s historical novel draws readers into the life and art of sixteenth-century Bologna with a compelling account of Lavinia Fontana, arguably the most famous female painter of the Italian Renaissance. Here readers will find a coming-of-age story filled with quest, complication, and catastrophe as well as miracles and hope. Although the novel is set four hundred years ago, the hard choices it involves speak to all times, all places, and are sure to tap into readers’ own conflicts between head and heart, real life and dreams.

In an era that denies women a place in the artist’s studio, can one young painter’s forbidden talent overcome tradition?

• The Italian Renaissance: Explore the vibrant, dangerous world of sixteenth-century Bologna, from the master’s workshop to the city’s bustling piazzas.
• A Strong Female Protagonist: Based on the true story of Lavinia Fontana, a young woman who risks everything to pursue her dream of becoming a painter in a man’s world.
• A Complex Father-Daughter Story: Vini must navigate her relationship with her father, a celebrated artist who is both her greatest obstacle and her only hope.
• Art History Comes to Life: Perfect for young readers who love art, history, and powerful stories about trailblazing women.

Louise Hawes is the author of many novels for young adults and is also a faculty member of the Spalding University MFA in Writing program. She has always loved fairy tales and says that Black Pearls was written for “everyone who dances without looking at the clock.” She lives in North Carolina.