The Painter's Daughter: The Story of Sandro Botticelli and Alessandra Lippi [Hardcover]

Carolyn Street LaFond (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 10, 2002

In 1537 the eighteen-year-old Cosimo Medici inherits the dukedom of Tuscany and with it the many riches of his Medici ancestors. In one of his villas a magical painting, hidden in storage for more than forty years, is discovered and arouses Cosimo's curiosity. The painting depicts the goddess Venus, "who hath no mortal face", rising from the sea and floating to shore on a giant shell. The young duke yearns to know more about the painter, Sandro Botticelli, who created this masterpiece for Cosimo's great uncle. Cosimo seeks out the ageing Alessandra Lippi, the woman purported to be the model for the Venus and for Botticelli's many spectacular Madonnas. He finds her on a small estate outside of Florence and, after speaking to him of her colourful youth as the goddaughter of Botticelli, she bequeaths to Cosimo the memoirs she kept secret along with her unrequitted love for the master painter. This novel brings to life the artistic and political turmoil of fifteenth-century Florence through the stories of Alessandra Lippi. At the centre of her narration, Alessandra follows Botticelli's career and reveals the mystery and controversy surrounding the celebrated "Birth of Venus". Alessandra speaks of a time of artistic glory that Cosimo hopes to return to Florence. But it is also a time of scandal and violence offset only by the definitive image of love and beauty that Botticelli unknowingly created for the next five centuries to come.

Editorial Reviews

From 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

Review

"LaFond gives us a fascinating glimpse into the world of art during one of Europe's most creative periods." -- Booklist

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Frederic C Beil (January 10, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 091372078X
• ISBN-13: 978-0913720783
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,297,250 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Combining art history and fiction, May 2, 2002

By 

fred matamoros (Olympia, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Painter's Daughter: The Story of Sandro Botticelli and Alessandra Lippi (Hardcover)

I found this book to be a carefully crafted, entertaining and educational experience. The author has clearly undertaken a great deal of research and paired it with her talent for telling a story. Much of Botticelli's work has been described as "lyrical precision," I honestly don't think it would be too far-fetched to use the same description for this book.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining masterpiece, November 22, 2004

By 

marilyn/baci "Marilyn" (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Painter's Daughter: The Story of Sandro Botticelli and Alessandra Lippi (Hardcover)

Having returned from Florence and viewing such masterpieces, my interest in Botticelli's art was satisfied with research and other works of fiction of this time. This novel transports you to the time period and gives great perspective of the different works of art of Botticelli and Lippi. A most enjoyable novel.

1 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In search of my roots!, March 29, 2004

By 

tom lippi (Denver, Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Painter's Daughter: The Story of Sandro Botticelli and Alessandra Lippi (Hardcover)

I will go out and buy the book, since I'd never heard of it, and am trying to find information on my ancestors! I didn't even know Fra Filippo had a daughter! I traveled to Ancona, birthplace of Fra Fillipo Lippi and my grandfather, Cipriano Lippi. I don't know where Alessandra was born exactly, so I'm definately buying the book!