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The Vanishing Point: A Story of Lavinia Fontana
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.
226 pages, Hardcover
First published September 27, 2004
5 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Louise Hawes
17 books58 followersI live in North Carolina, where time moves more slowly than it did in New York. That means my day can include writing, working with new writers, yoga, and hanging OUT with my sweet teacher, Mother Nature.
I have two grown children, both teachers. They are, deliciously and, to me always surprisingly, among my two best friends on the planet.
I'm a teacher as well as an author, serving proudly on the faculty at Vermont College of Fine Arts in the MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults Program, and at Mainely Writing, an intensive week-long writing retreat on the coast of you know which beautiful New England state.
What's new? A collaborative graphic novel, A FLIGHT OF ANGELS, comes out from Vertigo/DC Comics in November!
I have two grown children, both teachers. They are, deliciously and, to me always surprisingly, among my two best friends on the planet.
I'm a teacher as well as an author, serving proudly on the faculty at Vermont College of Fine Arts in the MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults Program, and at Mainely Writing, an intensive week-long writing retreat on the coast of you know which beautiful New England state.
What's new? A collaborative graphic novel, A FLIGHT OF ANGELS, comes out from Vertigo/DC Comics in November!
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 15, 2018
It's always a pleasure to read about unsung women artists, especially in so fascinating an era as the Italian Renaissance. Louise Hawes' fictional account of real-life, 16th Century painter Lavinia Fontana is freely imagined (as Hawes cheerfully explains in her Afterword) from an early period of the artist's life about which not much is known.
The book is written for a slightly younger readership than I was expecting, but Hawes details the complicated relationships between "Vini" and her parents with precision — the artist father who doesn't "see" her because she's not the son he craves, and the fragile mother overwhelmed by her alpha husband. The story centers on Vini fighting for her place in her father's art studio, based on merit, not gender, and learning to bond with her mother, who has reserves of inner strength.
In real life, Lavinia married Gian Paolo Zappi, one of the apprentice art students in her father's workshop, but I found Hawes' version of their love story a little uninspiring. Paolo, while very sweet and caring, is entirely devoted to Vini from their very first scene together — when Vini barely even knows who he is — and so he has nowhere to grow as a character. He waits around patiently for Vini to notice him, much as she craves her father's attention.
Still, this is a fast, interesting read. I especially liked the use of puppet shows throughout the story to reflect the culture of the times.
The book is written for a slightly younger readership than I was expecting, but Hawes details the complicated relationships between "Vini" and her parents with precision — the artist father who doesn't "see" her because she's not the son he craves, and the fragile mother overwhelmed by her alpha husband. The story centers on Vini fighting for her place in her father's art studio, based on merit, not gender, and learning to bond with her mother, who has reserves of inner strength.
In real life, Lavinia married Gian Paolo Zappi, one of the apprentice art students in her father's workshop, but I found Hawes' version of their love story a little uninspiring. Paolo, while very sweet and caring, is entirely devoted to Vini from their very first scene together — when Vini barely even knows who he is — and so he has nowhere to grow as a character. He waits around patiently for Vini to notice him, much as she craves her father's attention.
Still, this is a fast, interesting read. I especially liked the use of puppet shows throughout the story to reflect the culture of the times.
December 30, 2010
I read Louise Hawes' account of the 16th century Renaissance painter, Lavinia ("Vini") Fontana, and my mind was full of adjectives: colorful, rich, luscious, dramatic, hungry, passionate, and romantic--in every sense of the word. Hawes uses historical facts-- Vini's father (Prospero) being a prestigious portrait artist and her marriage to one of his students--to name two, as the scaffolds upon which she constructs this novel. With imagination, Hawes shows Fontana overcoming emotional, societal, and familial obstacles in order to realize her passion: to study and practice art.
This is not only a story of how a young girl finds her place in the male-dominated art world, but Hawes' attention to historical detail makes this a great book for classroom study of the Renaissance period. The relationship between her parents which shows her father's despair over not having produced a male heir, tarrot cards and superstitious beliefs, the role of the church--each one of these are seamlessly woven into this rich tapestry. And through it all, there are wonderful threads of images about art, music, puppets, appetite, approval, love, secrets, dreams, and the vanishing point itself.
In this section, Vini analyzes her first drawing and thinks,
"Father would have hated the lack of perspective. 'Remember the vanishing point,' he is always telling his students. 'Objects become smaller as they move toward the horizon.'....
"The vanishing point, Vini thinks as her father drones on. The place where things get so small they disappear. Perhaps she and Mama seem that small to Prospero....” (p. 21)
Hawes' expertise in art history and as a young adult author shines in this book that female readers of all ages will enjoy. Notice how she draws from both skills in these descriptions of Vini painting her father and his apprentice, Paolo:
"She has transferred her drawing to one of the canvases Paolo has brought. She needs only to lay in the colors in a few more places. It is almost alive.
She likes the shadow, the tongue of purple she has added behind the pair of walking men, and the mist from the fountain in the foreground, each drop of water like a pearl....
"But something is wrong with the way she has shown Paolo ...
...
"She tries a layer of chalk under Paolo's face and hands, hoping to nurse him to life, to find the gift he can bring to the painting. She adds more linseed oil, as Paolo has taught her to, managing to keep the paint moist, moving. It is like a language she has always known, the play of light and dark." (p.51-52)
I closed the book with chills and tears in my eyes. I felt not unlike Vini when she left her beloved puppet shows, "She turns from the stage, brimming with a sweet, not unpleasant sadness, which she nurses all the way home." (p. 7)
Read this book and savor the words, the textures, and the symbolism. For further information, read an interview with Hawes, or download a study guide, or see some of Fontana's paintings. (Houghton Mifflin, 2004)
This is not only a story of how a young girl finds her place in the male-dominated art world, but Hawes' attention to historical detail makes this a great book for classroom study of the Renaissance period. The relationship between her parents which shows her father's despair over not having produced a male heir, tarrot cards and superstitious beliefs, the role of the church--each one of these are seamlessly woven into this rich tapestry. And through it all, there are wonderful threads of images about art, music, puppets, appetite, approval, love, secrets, dreams, and the vanishing point itself.
In this section, Vini analyzes her first drawing and thinks,
"Father would have hated the lack of perspective. 'Remember the vanishing point,' he is always telling his students. 'Objects become smaller as they move toward the horizon.'....
"The vanishing point, Vini thinks as her father drones on. The place where things get so small they disappear. Perhaps she and Mama seem that small to Prospero....” (p. 21)
Hawes' expertise in art history and as a young adult author shines in this book that female readers of all ages will enjoy. Notice how she draws from both skills in these descriptions of Vini painting her father and his apprentice, Paolo:
"She has transferred her drawing to one of the canvases Paolo has brought. She needs only to lay in the colors in a few more places. It is almost alive.
She likes the shadow, the tongue of purple she has added behind the pair of walking men, and the mist from the fountain in the foreground, each drop of water like a pearl....
"But something is wrong with the way she has shown Paolo ...
...
"She tries a layer of chalk under Paolo's face and hands, hoping to nurse him to life, to find the gift he can bring to the painting. She adds more linseed oil, as Paolo has taught her to, managing to keep the paint moist, moving. It is like a language she has always known, the play of light and dark." (p.51-52)
I closed the book with chills and tears in my eyes. I felt not unlike Vini when she left her beloved puppet shows, "She turns from the stage, brimming with a sweet, not unpleasant sadness, which she nurses all the way home." (p. 7)
Read this book and savor the words, the textures, and the symbolism. For further information, read an interview with Hawes, or download a study guide, or see some of Fontana's paintings. (Houghton Mifflin, 2004)
March 6, 2012
Two reactions after I finished reading this book:
1. Oh, wow. Did I just find a good, interesting topic to pursue for my art history research paper? Apparently, this is one of those instances wherein procrastination yields some very nice results. Great intuition, dear self. I will go forth and do some research about her paintings now.
2. I really, really like this.
"Mesmerizing" is probably a good word to describe it. The book made me feel--from the yearning and desperation of Lavinia/Vini Fontana to become a painter in a male-dominated society, her frustrations with her father, her struggle to find a connection with her mother, and her fears of being overshadowed by her unborn baby brother, the male heir her father had always dreamed of. I find it amazing how the author brought these characters and the Renaissance period to life. I felt like I was there, myself--and this is probably one of the nicest things I could say about a book.
Random comments/rambles/things:
1. Oh, wow. Did I just find a good, interesting topic to pursue for my art history research paper? Apparently, this is one of those instances wherein procrastination yields some very nice results. Great intuition, dear self. I will go forth and do some research about her paintings now.
2. I really, really like this.
"Mesmerizing" is probably a good word to describe it. The book made me feel--from the yearning and desperation of Lavinia/Vini Fontana to become a painter in a male-dominated society, her frustrations with her father, her struggle to find a connection with her mother, and her fears of being overshadowed by her unborn baby brother, the male heir her father had always dreamed of. I find it amazing how the author brought these characters and the Renaissance period to life. I felt like I was there, myself--and this is probably one of the nicest things I could say about a book.
Random comments/rambles/things:
April 12, 2021
Indeed a very lovely book,
beautifully written,
interesting plot twists,
and it seems like I was taken to Italy while reading this.
A very sad ending though, and it should have been a little longer.
beautifully written,
interesting plot twists,
and it seems like I was taken to Italy while reading this.
A very sad ending though, and it should have been a little longer.
September 28, 2016
Presenting the fictional teen years of a famous woman painter of the Italian Renaissance, a woman whose less talented husband mixed her paints and cared for their eleven children while Lavinia Fontana fulfilled private, church and papal commissions and supported her parents. Great elements add up to a rich story: interesting plot with depth, symbolism, well-rounded characters and insightful psychology. The a successful Renaissance art studio and home and the streets of Bologna are brought to life by vivid descriptions of their sights and sounds, especially the marionette theatre. I so enjoy this story that I am sharing it with my homeschool co-op's middle school literature class!
April 22, 2014
Lavinia, "Vini", is daughter to a famous Rennaisance painter and teacher and to a mother whom she discounts. Driven by her own desire to paint, Vini tricks her father into allowing her to paint, along with his other male students. The journey with this family is ever twisting and rich with specific detail. A fictionalized historical account of Lavinia Fontana, a rare woman in her time, this book would be wonderful for girls of today. I loved this book's intelligence, heart and complexity.
June 2, 2013
The Vanishing Point by Louise Lawes
Delightful fictional account of the actual historic figure of Lavinia Fontana. One of the first and foremost master Italian female artists, following the period of Michael Angelo, as she came into her own. Inspiring for anyone who wishes to dabble into the thoughts of what a painter focuses and experiences during the creation of their work.
Delightful fictional account of the actual historic figure of Lavinia Fontana. One of the first and foremost master Italian female artists, following the period of Michael Angelo, as she came into her own. Inspiring for anyone who wishes to dabble into the thoughts of what a painter focuses and experiences during the creation of their work.
August 15, 2010
It was interesting how the relationship between her and her father happened. Her mom and her had a small bond but it wasn't that significant. I wish it had included pictures of her paintings they would've been beautiful.
December 14, 2012
Lovely historical fiction about the woman Renaissance painter, Lavinia Fontana. I enjoyed the book, but it was a little flat in the writing style and/or character development. In short, something was missing from it. I think the novel should have been longer.
January 3, 2015
Easy light read
This was a very fast read full of imagery and a simple story. It is a great book for an afternoon read. The author captures the mind and senses of an artist and paints them into the page.
This was a very fast read full of imagery and a simple story. It is a great book for an afternoon read. The author captures the mind and senses of an artist and paints them into the page.
August 13, 2016
The story is set in 1566 Bologna.
Hawes's plot is a fictional account of an actual female painter who lived during the Renaissance era.
Hawes gives vivid detail about life in Italy in the 16th Century.
Hawes's plot is a fictional account of an actual female painter who lived during the Renaissance era.
Hawes gives vivid detail about life in Italy in the 16th Century.
December 8, 2007
pbk reprint of 2004 title. historical fiction based on life of real person set during italian renaissance. really vivid and interesting.
June 3, 2010
A cute historical fiction from the teen section.
October 22, 2011
Love Love Love...
November 21, 2011
I like the way the story goes. Simple plot, although, the ending was kind of lacking for me.
December 22, 2011
Definitely a YA book.
January 16, 2012
Kinda boring, really...
March 29, 2013
Beautiful imagery. I now long to see one of Livinia's paintings in person!
October 30, 2007
it was interesting, it is set back around the 1400s so you get to see what life was like..
April 10, 2013
It's a geat book but it did not stike me as much as i had expected.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews