In the present day, we think the pinnacle of art and architecture is the Italian Renaissance, but the concept of the Renaissance is relatively new. For the artists and craftsmen who lived during that time in the Italian states, primarily in Florence, it was just their lives. So how did we come up with the concept of the Renaissance for this era in history? It all started with the rediscovery of a series of drawings by Botticelli and their connections to the great poet, Dante. How did Botticelli’s art bring back an interest in this period, and why does the Renaissance matter in the modern day? Joseph Luzzi discusses the drawings that reignited an interest in this period of Italian art history in his book, “Botticelli’s Secret: The Lost Drawings and the Rediscovery of the Renaissance.”
This is one of those books that I found while perusing the used bookstores. I have noticed myself getting more and more into Italian Renaissance history, specifically about the famous artists of the period. When I saw that this particular book focused on Botticelli and Dante, it was intriguing to me.
We begin in the late 19th century with a man named Friedrich Lippmann and the bid for a collection of drawings that would alter how we view the period known as the Renaissance. These images were over 100 drawings of Dante’s epic The Divine Comedy created by renowned artist Botticelli. To understand the significance of this project, we must go back to the time when the Medicis ruled Florence. Dante would meet and fall in love with his muse Beatrice, the guide to his Divine Comedy. His masterpiece was an instant sensation in Florence, which inspired artists such as Botticelli, to create their own pieces inspired by it, which includes the over 100 drawings by Botticelli. While Dante’s star continued to rise after his death, Botticelli’s story started to decline into obscurity, minus a few notable pieces.
While I found the first part of this book, which was primarily about Dante, the Medicis, and Botticelli, the second part is where I started to lose interest. The second part of the book explores those who helped invent the term Renaissance and why they believed that this artwork was so important to protect and preserve. While I appreciate the amount of research Luzzi did in this section, it felt a bit dry for me. Overall, I think this was a decent book, but while it was called Botticelli’s secret, it was more about Dante’s greatness. If you want a book that explores the origins of the term Renaissance and how Dante inspired Botticelli, I recommend you read “Botticelli’s Secret: The Lost Drawings and the Rediscovery of the Renaissance” by Joseph Luzzi.
In the Italian states during the 15th century, a time of war coexisted with a period of art flourishing. But what if magic was thrown into the fray? Sculptress Ravenna Maffei desires nothing more than to create art and to protect her family while keeping her own magical powers a secret. To protect those she holds dear, Ravenna enters an art contest, hosted by the immortal family of Florence, the Luni. Ravenna is taken by the family to complete an important task, but if she fails, she will be killed by the heir of the family, Saturnino Luni. Unfortunately, the greatest danger lurks outside of Florence as the pope is waging war against magic itself. Can Ravenna uncover the secrets of the Luni family and finish their difficult task before war engulfs all of Florence? Ravenna’s story is told in Isabel Ibanez’s latest historical fantasy novel, “Graceless Heart.”
Florence, Italy, in the 16th century, was a city of opportunity and full of art and architecture. It was also a city on the precipice of great change. The great banking family, the Medicis, holds the reins of government in Florence, and Lorenzo de’ Medici is the family’s current head. However, two bastards will radically change his life and the Medici family. One was a bastard son of a notary who became one of the most famous artists ever. The other was a bastard son who became a priest and the enemy of the Medici family. Their stories of power and ambition intersect in the city of Florence in Phil Melanson’s debut novel, “Florenzer”.
The year is 1517, and Florence is experiencing great change. No longer is it a grand republic that it once was; instead, it is under the control of the Medici family. They ruthlessly controlled Florence, especially Pope Leo X, who was born Giovanni di Lorenzo de’ Medici. The people suffer as the Medici become increasingly wealthy, but a band of misfits and thieves plan to give some power back to the people with one of the greatest heists of 16th century Italy. Can they survive as a group when revelations from the past and dangers lurk around every corner? The adventure with this ragtag team of thieves as they fight for Florence is explored in Caitlin Schneiderhan’s novel, “Medici Heist.”
I am pleased to welcome Alana White to my blog today to share a blurb from her latest novel, “The Hearts of All on Fire.” I would like to thank The Coffee Pot Book Club and Alana White for allowing me to be part of this tour.
Blurb:
Author Bio:
When we think about men who challenged the Church and are known as Reformers, we tend to think of Martin Luther, Jan Hus, and John Calvin. However, a man fought against corruption in his beloved Florence who should be included in the list of great reformers. He was a Dominican monk who was not afraid to preach against sin and took aim at the most powerful men in all of Italy, including Pope Alexander VII. His sermons were so scandalous that they would lead to his demise upon a pyre in the middle of Florence. His name was Girolamo Savonarola, and his story is told in Samantha Morris’s latest biography, “The Pope’s Greatest Adversary: Girolamo Savonarola.”