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The Painter of Souls
Beauty can be a gift...or a wicked temptation...So it is for Filippo Lippi, growing up in Renaissance Florence. He has a talent - not only can he see the beauty in everything, he can capture it, paint it. But while beauty can seduce you, and art can transport you - it cannot always feed you or protect you. To survive, Pippo Lippi, orphan, street urchin, budding rogue, must first become Fra Filippo Lippi: Carmelite friar, man of God. His life will take him down two paths at once. He will become a gambler, a forger, a seducer of nuns; and at the same time he will be the greatest painter of his time, the teacher of Botticelli and the confidante of the Medicis. So who is he really - lover, believer, father, teacher, artist? Which man? Which life? Is anything true except the paintings? An extraordinary journey of passion, art and intrigue, The Painter of Souls takes us to a time and place in Italy's history where desire reigns and salvation is found in the strangest of places.
272 pages, Paperback
First published July 16, 2015
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July 22, 2015
“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”
----Pablo Picasso
Pip Vaughan-Hughes, an English writer, writing under the name of Philip Kazan, pens a mystifying historical fiction, The Painter of Souls that is based on the life and times of the famous painter, Fra Filippo Lippi, during the 15th century Renaissance Florence. Although there is not much known to this great historic painter's life, so the author immerses into Filippo's paintings to give a fictional sketch of his early as well as later life in Florence.
Synopsis:
Beauty can be a gift...or a wicked temptation...
So it is for Filippo Lippi, growing up in Renaissance Florence. He has a talent - not only can he see the beauty in everything, he can capture it, paint it. But while beauty can seduce you, and art can transport you - it cannot always feed you or protect you.
To survive, Filippo di Tommaso Lippi, street urchin, forger, drinker, seducer of nuns must become Fra Fra Filippo Lippi - Carmelite friar, man of God. Yet at the same time he is Lippo Lippi, creator of some the most radiantly beautiful paintings, Botticelli's teacher, Medici's confidante.
So who is he really - lover, believer, father, teacher, artist? Which man? Which life? Is anything true except the paintings?
An extraordinary journey of passion, art and intrigue, The Painter of Souls takes us to a time and place in Italy's history where desire reigns and salvation is found in the strangest of places.
Fra Filippo Lippi, born in the 15th century Florence, belongs to the second generation artists of Renaissance period. According to the book, Filippo, a.k.a, Pippo, began his life as a street urchin with other homeless boys when his father died and his mother took ill. But luck saves him from living in the streets, when he was rescued by the monks from Carmelite monastery and gave him an opportunity to be a friar in that convent. Unfortunately, he was not too keen to lead that sort of life, instead he continued to draw and one day, when he captures the true essence of a homeless woman and her baby by their souls on a cloak, his art and skill gets noticed by Masaccio, yet another legendary artist of Renaissance period. Followed by an apprenticeship under the great artist while living the convent life, we see Pippo the Sketcher transforming into Fra Filippo Lippi while capturing the angels and the souls of everyday life with such ease and kindness and compassion.
The writing is extremely lyrical and the prose flows like a poetic verse. The author's eloquent words and Florentine flair draws the readers into the core of the story right from the very first page. There is not much narration, but they are kept engaging.
There is lot of art and the art-lovers are in for a treat if they pick this book up, especially the 15th century art when the churches and the cathedrals were being painted with angels and the Virgin and with the images from Christ folklore in Florence for the first time. Since there is not much known about Lippi and his life, so the author relies mostly on Lippi's artwork as well as his own desire for art to re-create as well as give a beautiful painting to his life that is eye-catchy with bright hues of colors and angelic faces. The art world in Florence is the focal point in the book that features some of the greatest artists of that time.
The timeline and city are perfectly depicted into the book, thus promising the readers with a time-warp kind-of feeling. From the culture to the society to the linguistic style to the fashion to the poverty on the streets to the religious values and its importance in Florence in the mid 15th century are vividly portrayed as well as incorporated in the story.
The story about this young boy unreels mostly like a dreamy adventure where there is love, compassion, religion and friendships with light humor and where the author strikingly catches the fine skyline of Florence, thus making the novel a masterpiece of great art work.
Verdict: A perfect read for all those historical fiction lovers and if you want to experience Florence like never before, then do grab a copy of this compelling novel about one of the legendary Florentine artists of all times.
Courtesy: Thanks to Trip Fiction as well as Orion Publishing for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
----Pablo Picasso
Pip Vaughan-Hughes, an English writer, writing under the name of Philip Kazan, pens a mystifying historical fiction, The Painter of Souls that is based on the life and times of the famous painter, Fra Filippo Lippi, during the 15th century Renaissance Florence. Although there is not much known to this great historic painter's life, so the author immerses into Filippo's paintings to give a fictional sketch of his early as well as later life in Florence.
Synopsis:
Beauty can be a gift...or a wicked temptation...
So it is for Filippo Lippi, growing up in Renaissance Florence. He has a talent - not only can he see the beauty in everything, he can capture it, paint it. But while beauty can seduce you, and art can transport you - it cannot always feed you or protect you.
To survive, Filippo di Tommaso Lippi, street urchin, forger, drinker, seducer of nuns must become Fra Fra Filippo Lippi - Carmelite friar, man of God. Yet at the same time he is Lippo Lippi, creator of some the most radiantly beautiful paintings, Botticelli's teacher, Medici's confidante.
So who is he really - lover, believer, father, teacher, artist? Which man? Which life? Is anything true except the paintings?
An extraordinary journey of passion, art and intrigue, The Painter of Souls takes us to a time and place in Italy's history where desire reigns and salvation is found in the strangest of places.
Fra Filippo Lippi, born in the 15th century Florence, belongs to the second generation artists of Renaissance period. According to the book, Filippo, a.k.a, Pippo, began his life as a street urchin with other homeless boys when his father died and his mother took ill. But luck saves him from living in the streets, when he was rescued by the monks from Carmelite monastery and gave him an opportunity to be a friar in that convent. Unfortunately, he was not too keen to lead that sort of life, instead he continued to draw and one day, when he captures the true essence of a homeless woman and her baby by their souls on a cloak, his art and skill gets noticed by Masaccio, yet another legendary artist of Renaissance period. Followed by an apprenticeship under the great artist while living the convent life, we see Pippo the Sketcher transforming into Fra Filippo Lippi while capturing the angels and the souls of everyday life with such ease and kindness and compassion.
The writing is extremely lyrical and the prose flows like a poetic verse. The author's eloquent words and Florentine flair draws the readers into the core of the story right from the very first page. There is not much narration, but they are kept engaging.
There is lot of art and the art-lovers are in for a treat if they pick this book up, especially the 15th century art when the churches and the cathedrals were being painted with angels and the Virgin and with the images from Christ folklore in Florence for the first time. Since there is not much known about Lippi and his life, so the author relies mostly on Lippi's artwork as well as his own desire for art to re-create as well as give a beautiful painting to his life that is eye-catchy with bright hues of colors and angelic faces. The art world in Florence is the focal point in the book that features some of the greatest artists of that time.
The timeline and city are perfectly depicted into the book, thus promising the readers with a time-warp kind-of feeling. From the culture to the society to the linguistic style to the fashion to the poverty on the streets to the religious values and its importance in Florence in the mid 15th century are vividly portrayed as well as incorporated in the story.
The story about this young boy unreels mostly like a dreamy adventure where there is love, compassion, religion and friendships with light humor and where the author strikingly catches the fine skyline of Florence, thus making the novel a masterpiece of great art work.
Verdict: A perfect read for all those historical fiction lovers and if you want to experience Florence like never before, then do grab a copy of this compelling novel about one of the legendary Florentine artists of all times.
Courtesy: Thanks to Trip Fiction as well as Orion Publishing for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
July 16, 2016
“No matter how stained something is, there’s always something bright underneath.”
Pippo Lippi, the young Florentine who becomes the Carmelite friar Fra Filippo Lippi, has the innate gift of seeing into people’s purest selves and representing them in art. Philip Kazan’s first US-published novel is first in a projected series that imagines the life journey of the renowned painter, and there’s considerable joy in reading about an artist with an eye for the world’s beauty.
However, despite the glorious frescoes that adorn its convent walls and ceilings, Florence in the early 15th century hardly resembles paradise. Boys band together in the streets, essentially raising themselves while stealing food, and later, if they survive adolescence, selling their bodies to older men. Young Pippo, who’d fled his home after his father's death and his mother’s subsequent mental collapse, scrounges vellum from the trash, employing what tools he can to express his artistic talents.
The Painter of Souls is a novel of contrasts: the grim poverty of the inner city versus the quiet sanctity of religious houses; Filippo’s dual roles as friar and painter, which he never expected would be possible; the choice between chastity and carnal pleasures; and the unsavory realities of life, set against people’s dreams of heaven. More than that, though, it evokes the inner and outer struggles of a man who comes to bridge these disparate worlds through his magnificent art.
His isn’t a story without controversy. It’s one thing to show the humanity of biblical figures, but another to model their faces on ordinary, sinful people.
Filippo has guidance along his unusual path. He has several mentors (maestros) who nurture his talent, including the painters Masolino and Masaccio – the similarities in names occasionally gets confusing, but they’re based in history – and two understanding religious leaders, Fra Antonio in Pisa and Prior Pietro in Florence. The words used to describe one could fit the other as well: “He sees the world as clearly as he sees Heaven.”
Over five centuries have passed since Filippo Lippi lived, but in keeping with its characters’ depictions, their dialogue is down-to-earth and accessible. There’s humor in the telling, too, which suits Filippo's personality:
“He is soaked and frozen, but although by rights he should be miserable, he is feeling strangely virtuous. This, perhaps, is the penance the prior should have given him. As he trudges into the town he is even hoping that tomorrow’s weather will be even more vile. That way, he can positively bathe in virtuous suffering.”
This is a rewarding story that draws readers fully into its place and time. For those wanting a close-up view of artists at work, too, the novel will have strong appeal.
Pippo Lippi, the young Florentine who becomes the Carmelite friar Fra Filippo Lippi, has the innate gift of seeing into people’s purest selves and representing them in art. Philip Kazan’s first US-published novel is first in a projected series that imagines the life journey of the renowned painter, and there’s considerable joy in reading about an artist with an eye for the world’s beauty.
However, despite the glorious frescoes that adorn its convent walls and ceilings, Florence in the early 15th century hardly resembles paradise. Boys band together in the streets, essentially raising themselves while stealing food, and later, if they survive adolescence, selling their bodies to older men. Young Pippo, who’d fled his home after his father's death and his mother’s subsequent mental collapse, scrounges vellum from the trash, employing what tools he can to express his artistic talents.
The Painter of Souls is a novel of contrasts: the grim poverty of the inner city versus the quiet sanctity of religious houses; Filippo’s dual roles as friar and painter, which he never expected would be possible; the choice between chastity and carnal pleasures; and the unsavory realities of life, set against people’s dreams of heaven. More than that, though, it evokes the inner and outer struggles of a man who comes to bridge these disparate worlds through his magnificent art.
His isn’t a story without controversy. It’s one thing to show the humanity of biblical figures, but another to model their faces on ordinary, sinful people.
Filippo has guidance along his unusual path. He has several mentors (maestros) who nurture his talent, including the painters Masolino and Masaccio – the similarities in names occasionally gets confusing, but they’re based in history – and two understanding religious leaders, Fra Antonio in Pisa and Prior Pietro in Florence. The words used to describe one could fit the other as well: “He sees the world as clearly as he sees Heaven.”
Over five centuries have passed since Filippo Lippi lived, but in keeping with its characters’ depictions, their dialogue is down-to-earth and accessible. There’s humor in the telling, too, which suits Filippo's personality:
“He is soaked and frozen, but although by rights he should be miserable, he is feeling strangely virtuous. This, perhaps, is the penance the prior should have given him. As he trudges into the town he is even hoping that tomorrow’s weather will be even more vile. That way, he can positively bathe in virtuous suffering.”
This is a rewarding story that draws readers fully into its place and time. For those wanting a close-up view of artists at work, too, the novel will have strong appeal.
July 16, 2015
Novel set in Florence (Filippo Lippi: “the master of presence”)
A novel for lovers of art. The author takes the reader right back to the early years of 15th Century Florence, when the city and Europe were on the cusp of the Renaissance, and builds a story around the artist Fra Filippo Lippi, formerly known as Pippo.
Pippo started out as a street urchin, his father had died, his mother suffered from melancholia and he had no choice but to join a disparate group of street children who had to make their way in the city. His income largely derived from the drawings he created and then sold. But the hand of luck - perhaps divine intervention even – plucked him from the streets and brought him to the life of a friar in the Carmine. But he was never the staunchest convert and continued to draw, and one day he found himself so taken with the scene of a woman feeding her baby that he had to capture her essence on the inside of his cloak (remembering of course that vellum and wood and walls were the carriers for paintings of that era and paper was still in the early stages of production). Talent spotted, he is apprenticed eventually to the painter Masaccio, who according to Vasari (essentially, the first art historian) was the best painter of his generation because of his ability to form life-like figures that had a real feel of three dimensionality.
He mixed with the great and the good of the art world, Donatello (the genius of the age) and Ghiberti (who created the bronze doors of the Florence Baptistery) and eventually caught the eye of Patron Cosimo de Medici.
It is clear the author has a real passion for art and has carried out extensive research to bring the feel of the art and the age to the modern reader. It was a harsh and cruel world for the poor, and a struggle to eke out the most frugal living. The church was a focal point in the lives of most people, and justice for the populace was summary. There is little known of the life of the actual painter, so the author has had to find his inspiration through the art of the period, as well as his imagination.
I came away from this book feeling that I had been immersed in a period where things were changing on the art front, and by the end I certainly felt more informed. The overall feel of the book is strangely muted and monochrome – the inevitable pungent smells and the visceral sights of the time only occasionally come to the fore; I had anticipated an assault on the senses given the period and so it did at some level feel like a bit of a sanitised retrospective.
The book is mentioned in the same breath as The Miniaturist (set in Amsterdam) and Girl with a Pearl Earring (set in Delft), but for me the vibrancy and colour to be found in those two books wasn’t quite there. The book cover actually reflects the content really well, earthy yet pastel colours and a delicate detail from the painter’s Madonna and Child. Solid and interesting, a good and ultimately gentle read.
This review originally appeared on our blog: http://www.tripfiction.com/novel-set-...
A novel for lovers of art. The author takes the reader right back to the early years of 15th Century Florence, when the city and Europe were on the cusp of the Renaissance, and builds a story around the artist Fra Filippo Lippi, formerly known as Pippo.
Pippo started out as a street urchin, his father had died, his mother suffered from melancholia and he had no choice but to join a disparate group of street children who had to make their way in the city. His income largely derived from the drawings he created and then sold. But the hand of luck - perhaps divine intervention even – plucked him from the streets and brought him to the life of a friar in the Carmine. But he was never the staunchest convert and continued to draw, and one day he found himself so taken with the scene of a woman feeding her baby that he had to capture her essence on the inside of his cloak (remembering of course that vellum and wood and walls were the carriers for paintings of that era and paper was still in the early stages of production). Talent spotted, he is apprenticed eventually to the painter Masaccio, who according to Vasari (essentially, the first art historian) was the best painter of his generation because of his ability to form life-like figures that had a real feel of three dimensionality.
He mixed with the great and the good of the art world, Donatello (the genius of the age) and Ghiberti (who created the bronze doors of the Florence Baptistery) and eventually caught the eye of Patron Cosimo de Medici.
It is clear the author has a real passion for art and has carried out extensive research to bring the feel of the art and the age to the modern reader. It was a harsh and cruel world for the poor, and a struggle to eke out the most frugal living. The church was a focal point in the lives of most people, and justice for the populace was summary. There is little known of the life of the actual painter, so the author has had to find his inspiration through the art of the period, as well as his imagination.
I came away from this book feeling that I had been immersed in a period where things were changing on the art front, and by the end I certainly felt more informed. The overall feel of the book is strangely muted and monochrome – the inevitable pungent smells and the visceral sights of the time only occasionally come to the fore; I had anticipated an assault on the senses given the period and so it did at some level feel like a bit of a sanitised retrospective.
The book is mentioned in the same breath as The Miniaturist (set in Amsterdam) and Girl with a Pearl Earring (set in Delft), but for me the vibrancy and colour to be found in those two books wasn’t quite there. The book cover actually reflects the content really well, earthy yet pastel colours and a delicate detail from the painter’s Madonna and Child. Solid and interesting, a good and ultimately gentle read.
This review originally appeared on our blog: http://www.tripfiction.com/novel-set-...
July 14, 2023
I came to The Painter of Souls with high expectations as the two other books by the author I’ve read – The Black Earth and The Phoenix of Florence – were both five star reads for me. I wasn’t disappointed, because I loved The Painter of Souls.
In his Acknowledgments, the author notes that almost nothing is really known about Filippo Lippi the person. We have some bare facts about his life and, of course, his art but that’s about it. However I recall a comment made by author Robert Harris at last year’s Henley Literary Festival that when it comes to history, there are always gaps in our knowledge but those gaps are great things because after all if we knew everything there wouldn’t be any point in writing historical fiction. In this spirit, Philip Kazan has taken the known facts and used his imagination to fill in the gaps so Pippo (the name he is often referred by in the book) comes alive on the page as we witness his journey from street urchin to Carmelite friar to acclaimed painter. The book is peopled with other real life figures, from Cosimo de’Medici to the sculptor, Donatello.
In the author’s hands, Pippo’s journey is the result of a combination of a natural talent for drawing – as a young boy he survives by selling sketches of people in the market place – and good fortune. Having been taken in by the Carmelite monastery, his talent for art is gradually recognised and he is soon assisting the Florentine artist Masaccio to paint frescoes of religious subjects commissioned by wealthy individuals. Pippo finds a kindred spirit as well as a mentor in Masaccio whose paintings are notable for featuring lifelike figures, often based on real people observed on the streets of Florence, and realistic backgrounds. Pippo is truly a ‘painter of souls’ prioritising reality over tradition and artifice, and incorporating human emotions into the figures he paints. There is one particularly poignant scene where he sketches a destitute young mother with her child.
Despite Pippo’s reputation as a painter growing, he cannot escape his past. ‘This is who he is: a mongrel, a badly cooked dish of vagabond, friar, maker of pictures.’ His early life comes back to haunt him in the most profound way when a friend of his youth, now a young man living a dissolute lifestyle, falls foul of the ruling council of Florence.
I loved the evocative descriptions of fifteenth century Florence: its streets, buildings and squares; the sights, sounds and smells of everyday life. It is definitely now a city I am keen to visit to, as it were, walk in Pippo’s footsteps.
Even if you’re not that interested in art, I think you would be swept along by Pippo’s story, and his humanity. ‘The world is beautiful. We are beautiful. [… ] The trick is to see it. No . . . No. The trick is to look. Always to look.’
Having become thoroughly immersed in the details of Pippo’s eventful life, you can imagine my disappointment when I got to the end of the book and found it was only the first in a planned series – and the author has yet to write any more! I really wanted to find out what happens to Pippo to get himself into the situation we learn about in the Prologue, set in 1469 the year of his death.
In his Acknowledgments, the author notes that almost nothing is really known about Filippo Lippi the person. We have some bare facts about his life and, of course, his art but that’s about it. However I recall a comment made by author Robert Harris at last year’s Henley Literary Festival that when it comes to history, there are always gaps in our knowledge but those gaps are great things because after all if we knew everything there wouldn’t be any point in writing historical fiction. In this spirit, Philip Kazan has taken the known facts and used his imagination to fill in the gaps so Pippo (the name he is often referred by in the book) comes alive on the page as we witness his journey from street urchin to Carmelite friar to acclaimed painter. The book is peopled with other real life figures, from Cosimo de’Medici to the sculptor, Donatello.
In the author’s hands, Pippo’s journey is the result of a combination of a natural talent for drawing – as a young boy he survives by selling sketches of people in the market place – and good fortune. Having been taken in by the Carmelite monastery, his talent for art is gradually recognised and he is soon assisting the Florentine artist Masaccio to paint frescoes of religious subjects commissioned by wealthy individuals. Pippo finds a kindred spirit as well as a mentor in Masaccio whose paintings are notable for featuring lifelike figures, often based on real people observed on the streets of Florence, and realistic backgrounds. Pippo is truly a ‘painter of souls’ prioritising reality over tradition and artifice, and incorporating human emotions into the figures he paints. There is one particularly poignant scene where he sketches a destitute young mother with her child.
Despite Pippo’s reputation as a painter growing, he cannot escape his past. ‘This is who he is: a mongrel, a badly cooked dish of vagabond, friar, maker of pictures.’ His early life comes back to haunt him in the most profound way when a friend of his youth, now a young man living a dissolute lifestyle, falls foul of the ruling council of Florence.
I loved the evocative descriptions of fifteenth century Florence: its streets, buildings and squares; the sights, sounds and smells of everyday life. It is definitely now a city I am keen to visit to, as it were, walk in Pippo’s footsteps.
Even if you’re not that interested in art, I think you would be swept along by Pippo’s story, and his humanity. ‘The world is beautiful. We are beautiful. [… ] The trick is to see it. No . . . No. The trick is to look. Always to look.’
Having become thoroughly immersed in the details of Pippo’s eventful life, you can imagine my disappointment when I got to the end of the book and found it was only the first in a planned series – and the author has yet to write any more! I really wanted to find out what happens to Pippo to get himself into the situation we learn about in the Prologue, set in 1469 the year of his death.
August 23, 2021
Discover the locations of The Painter of Souls
Travel to and really immerse yourself in the artistic world of Florence
This was based on the real life artist of Fra Filippo Lippi. Filippo was an artist who lived at the time of the Renaissance. What we experience as a reader is the wonderful birth of the art of that period.
We meet Pippo as he was known when he was a small boy begging for food in the streets. His father dead and his mother ill, he has a bad start in life. Therefore, he struggles to survive. Not surprisingly, he has to live a life not unlike Charles Dicken’s Oliver . Poverty and hunger force him to join a street gang to survive. He starts to draw however and captures street scenes. Due to this, he captures the attention of someone and fate places him in a Carmine as a friar. He continues to draw as art is his real passion.
The story follows his development as he becomes more accomplished and revered…..
What I loved about this part of the novel – finding out how he drew – was the fact that paper as we know it today has still not been invented so he drew on anything he could get his hands on. Artists often painted on walls for example so the process of seeing his create his art is very unique. Once again, he captures the attention of someone who will change his life, but this time it’s a famous painter by the name of Masaccio. Massacio is merely the first of a line of renaissance painters including Donatello and Medici.
The art world is brought to life and contrasts well with the dirt and poverty of the streets at that time. It was more a recreation of the time and place rather than the artistry and the colour palettes. I imagined I would be able to smell the paint and feel the sweep of the brush but it wasn’t as vividly drawn as this. It’s a relatively short novel and I would have liked even more description of the brush strokes etc if I’m honest.
I admire how the author has looked at a real life artist and has reimagined his life. There are lots of artistic references and nods to other real life figures so the scene is set for your imagination to fill in the rest.
First in the series about this painter so well worth a read as I am definitely going to read the others.
July 13, 2016
The lovely people at Pegasus Books sent me the book that I'll be reviewing in today's post. :-)
Philip Kazan's The Painter of Souls is the fictionalized story of a real artist from the 15th century by the name of Fra' (as in Friar) Filippo Lippi. What is known about the friar is that he wasn't a particularly good friar but he was an excellent painter. Despite taking orders, he remained a street urchin at heart and therefore his priorities weren't always aligned with the church. A work of historical fiction should make the reader want to go out and learn more about the topic/person/time period. This book does that and so much more. Kazan took what little was known of the man and spun out a tale of someone who straddled the line between man of God and man of sensuality. The Painter of Souls is set in Florence, Italy and the majority of the narrative takes place inside the Carmelite convent or the streets among the destitute and lawless. I always enjoy books that transport me to places that I might not have much knowledge about (if any at all). After finishing this, I looked up some of the artwork of Lippi because it was that which inspired Kazan to dedicate a series (yes, this is a series) to the man. If you're an art lover or would like to learn more about what it was like to live in Italy during the 15th century then this book can fulfill all of your wishes. Also, if you're curious to know about what it was like to poop in 15th century Italy I highly recommend this book.
Philip Kazan's The Painter of Souls is the fictionalized story of a real artist from the 15th century by the name of Fra' (as in Friar) Filippo Lippi. What is known about the friar is that he wasn't a particularly good friar but he was an excellent painter. Despite taking orders, he remained a street urchin at heart and therefore his priorities weren't always aligned with the church. A work of historical fiction should make the reader want to go out and learn more about the topic/person/time period. This book does that and so much more. Kazan took what little was known of the man and spun out a tale of someone who straddled the line between man of God and man of sensuality. The Painter of Souls is set in Florence, Italy and the majority of the narrative takes place inside the Carmelite convent or the streets among the destitute and lawless. I always enjoy books that transport me to places that I might not have much knowledge about (if any at all). After finishing this, I looked up some of the artwork of Lippi because it was that which inspired Kazan to dedicate a series (yes, this is a series) to the man. If you're an art lover or would like to learn more about what it was like to live in Italy during the 15th century then this book can fulfill all of your wishes. Also, if you're curious to know about what it was like to poop in 15th century Italy I highly recommend this book.
June 2, 2016
Journey to Florence for a lovely introduction to the life of Renaissance artist Fra Filipo Lippi! Author Philip Kazan has re-imagined the life of this famous painter, adding fascinating little twists and quirks of personality. Nicely written, in an easy-to-read style, sometimes in-your-face blunt style, it was easy to fall utterly into the story complete with all the sites and smells of Renaissance Italy. The author uses a first person present style of writing that makes the tale seem more current and vivid. I especially liked Fra Lippo's imperfections. Yes, he is a monk or friar, but can be a little scandalous in his behavior. As a reader, I was treated to visual descriptions of grand cathedrals and churches, other historical persons of the time, and wonderful artistic practices and techniques. This book is the first in a series and deal with the artists earlier life. I definitely look forward to reading the book in the series. Thank you to the author and publisher. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for visiting my blog, http://greathistoricals.blogspot.ca, where the greatest historical fiction is reviewed! For fascinating women of history bios and women's fiction please visit http://www.historyandwomen.com.
November 3, 2016
The painter of souls by Philip Kazan . Fra Fillipo is one of my favorite Renaissance artists. I very much anticipated reading the painter of souls---such a wonderful title! The Novel focuses on The artists early life. How he became a painter. As there is not a detailed record of The artists life, the author did an excellent job of imagining his early life. Kazan might have used more colorful language that is representative of an Artist's perspective when describing the paintings. The action is a bit slow and there is quite a bit of unnecessary dialogue. I would've enjoyed more colorful descriptions of painting and the process of preparing walls to receive frescoes and grinding of colors, etc. etc. Perhaps I should have read nonfiction art history. I have found that well written historical fiction instructs as well as delights the imagination. This novel fell short a bit of that.I continued reading because of my interest in this era and subject.
May 31, 2016
Una novela que te transportará a la vida en Florencia del siglo XV, cuando la cuidad estaba en la cúspide del Renacimiento. La novela gira entorno la vida de Pippo Lippi, despúes conocido como Fra Filippo Lippi, un niño de la calle que tenía el don de dibujar. Su vida cambía radicalmente cuando se convierte en fraile de la Ordén de los Carmelitas, en el que seguirá pintando hasta crearse en uno de los mejores pintores de su tiempo.
He disfrutado mucho de la novela porque es evidente que el autor es un amante del arte y lo plasma en cada palabra que escribe. Me gustó mucho el protagonista, sobretodo porque no es un fraile al uso, sedució a monjas y cayó en el juego; pero al mismo tiempo fue mentor de Botticelli y confidente de los Medicis.
No se sabe mucho de la vida real del pintor pero sin duda la histora que nos cuenta Kazan suena plausible.
He disfrutado mucho de la novela porque es evidente que el autor es un amante del arte y lo plasma en cada palabra que escribe. Me gustó mucho el protagonista, sobretodo porque no es un fraile al uso, sedució a monjas y cayó en el juego; pero al mismo tiempo fue mentor de Botticelli y confidente de los Medicis.
No se sabe mucho de la vida real del pintor pero sin duda la histora que nos cuenta Kazan suena plausible.
July 2, 2016
3.5/4
Charming portrayal of early years in which Fra Filippo turns from street urchin to painter under the auspices of a sympathetic Carmelite prior and a willing master artist who teaches the craft. Sound in style and good historical detail of quatrocento Florence.
More volumes allegedly to come, which is good as this one is rather brief.
Charming portrayal of early years in which Fra Filippo turns from street urchin to painter under the auspices of a sympathetic Carmelite prior and a willing master artist who teaches the craft. Sound in style and good historical detail of quatrocento Florence.
More volumes allegedly to come, which is good as this one is rather brief.
May 27, 2018
Damn and blast he’s done it again another wonderful atmospheric masterpiece of a novel. I can just imagine all those people including the historical figures come to life as they are shown in this story. Even if we don’t know much about lippi imagination is a great tool and I would think he would agree with his novel representation of himself
October 6, 2018
This is an immersive, vivid and imaginative read. Its a good book to read for a bit of escapism - I liked that I could imagine the various settings - indeed I thought the descriptions of areas and environs was possibly even indulgent, in a good way and I found myself wondering about the various characters background and the like. It was a very enjoyable read. I found myself hoping for the best for some people and wondering what would happen in the end. I found the mix (themes?) of religion and art very intriguing.
I should perhaps mention that there is one part of the book which is a bit saucy and there's mention of, or reference to, prostitution, so obviously its not a book for children but it certainly isn't an erotic read or anything like that either, just if your not keen on reading anything at all sexual then you may not want to read this but that sort of content is pretty limited overall I'd say. I thought it was one of the better books I've read this year , so I'd recommend it. I also noticed that the authors states its the first in a series of books about the life of Fra Filippo Lippi - I'd gladly read any subsequent books.
I should perhaps mention that there is one part of the book which is a bit saucy and there's mention of, or reference to, prostitution, so obviously its not a book for children but it certainly isn't an erotic read or anything like that either, just if your not keen on reading anything at all sexual then you may not want to read this but that sort of content is pretty limited overall I'd say. I thought it was one of the better books I've read this year , so I'd recommend it. I also noticed that the authors states its the first in a series of books about the life of Fra Filippo Lippi - I'd gladly read any subsequent books.
November 7, 2016
I received this book to read and review.
Pippo's father is dead and his mother suffers from melancholy. He joins a group of urchins playing dice but then he is plucked from that way of life and becomes a Carmelite friar, Filippo Lippi.
One day he paints a picture and catches the eye of renowned painter Massaccio and a new chapter in his life begins.
The book is set in Florence, Italy and I found some of the descriptions of the places to be as lifelife as they possibly could between the pages of a book. I felt the author knew a great deal about art and artists or was certainly a great fan of the period. The writers descriptions of 15th century Italy and what it was like to live then are beautifully described and I found the book to be truly charming.
I thought it was a novel that was a little bit different from the usual genre that I read but I loved every page.
Pippo's father is dead and his mother suffers from melancholy. He joins a group of urchins playing dice but then he is plucked from that way of life and becomes a Carmelite friar, Filippo Lippi.
One day he paints a picture and catches the eye of renowned painter Massaccio and a new chapter in his life begins.
The book is set in Florence, Italy and I found some of the descriptions of the places to be as lifelife as they possibly could between the pages of a book. I felt the author knew a great deal about art and artists or was certainly a great fan of the period. The writers descriptions of 15th century Italy and what it was like to live then are beautifully described and I found the book to be truly charming.
I thought it was a novel that was a little bit different from the usual genre that I read but I loved every page.
November 8, 2019
Detailing the young life of Fra Filippo Lippi: Florentine friar turned painter. This piece of historical fiction centers around an artist with a unique talent: creating subjects from real people and showcasing their humanity. And while Lippi was able to give his characters souls, the majority of Kazan's book lacked this quality. It was only at the very end that it felt as if the novel had any real heart. Yes, it is filled with rich, flowery language, but that is to be expected from an art historian. Plus, Kazan made Lippi too humble, to the point of annoyance. I would have much preferred scenes where his reputation reached beyond his own town & parish.
May 18, 2020
I really enjoyed this one.
I loved the emotions Philip Kazan put into this story. I felt so much compassion and kindness radiating from this story. Filippo felt so human to me. Which doesn't always happen with historical fiction. Sometimes, due to such differences in cultures and time, I don't always connect with a character. But I did here. And I loved it. The world building and perspective in the novel was interesting; the novel really brought the setting to life.
In conclusion, I'm enjoyed the story and characters very much. If nothing else, I'm at least now very much interested at reading more into Italian history.
I loved the emotions Philip Kazan put into this story. I felt so much compassion and kindness radiating from this story. Filippo felt so human to me. Which doesn't always happen with historical fiction. Sometimes, due to such differences in cultures and time, I don't always connect with a character. But I did here. And I loved it. The world building and perspective in the novel was interesting; the novel really brought the setting to life.
In conclusion, I'm enjoyed the story and characters very much. If nothing else, I'm at least now very much interested at reading more into Italian history.
April 3, 2018
This book is apparently the first in a series of books about Fra Filippo Lippi, the early renaissance painter. The author re-imagines Filippo's early life on the streets of Florence, in the monastery and his apprenticeship with the great Masaccio. The author has done a wonderful job of evoking the feel of the times and also the descriptions of the art.
Looking forward to the next book.
Looking forward to the next book.
August 17, 2018
Didn't feel any depth to the writing. We are told that Filippo Lippi can paint souls - but the writer did a poor job of conveying any sense of transcendence within this human experience to the reader. It was interesting that Our Lady features very prominently and that her painterly image adopts approving or judging or disinterested stances as Pippo seeks guidance from her. It was an easy read.
November 28, 2020
A novel about Fra Flippo Lippi, a Carmelite Italian painter in the 15th century. It is a delightful story of a street urchin with a remarkable talent. Various well-known Italian artists and personalities have parts in the story: Donatello, Cosimo de Medici, Masaccio and Masolino. The descriptions of the art makes one want to study these frescoes much more thoroughly.
September 12, 2021
Historical fiction based on the artist Filippo Lippi and other artists of Renaissance Florence. A fairly interesting and easy read, but, for me, the characters, as written by Philip Kazan, lacked depth and passion. Nevertheless, I'm still open to reading more by this author due to my interest in the Renaissance era. 3.5
October 28, 2019
This was fine as a book showing the early life and development of a great painter. The blurb was kind of a tease, since it referenced events that the story didn't cover -- I would have liked to read about them!
April 21, 2020
Enchanting
This book captured my soul from the first page. The immense historical detail from public hangings to Church details not forgetting the artistic accuracy made this book one of the best I have ever read.
This book captured my soul from the first page. The immense historical detail from public hangings to Church details not forgetting the artistic accuracy made this book one of the best I have ever read.
October 25, 2017
I am a fan of historical fiction. I loved this book and all of its characters.
November 26, 2017
A good read. I liked the force of the character who was so weak in his decisions!
July 13, 2018
A quiet, artful piece of writing. It reads almost like a painting, giving glimpses into the long life of a prolific painter.
June 15, 2020
A wonderful book.
December 30, 2021
Based on the synopsis, the book didn't turn out to be what to was expecting. Not in a bad way however, just different. I would have liked for it to be longer and to experience his life for longer.
January 1, 2022
A very interesting book that was a surprise find - i recommend it.
September 18, 2024
Interesting histroical fiction focusing mostly on life of painters in medieval Europe.
May 3, 2016
This is the first of a series of books that will be issued, each imagining a phase in the life of the early Italian Renaissance painter Fra Filippo Lippi. We know only about some of his artworks and some basic points about his life. The author imagines the rest, and presents this biography of the artist's early years in great detail, often from the artist's perspective.
In this book you might be deceived by the simple style into thinking this book is written for teens. When you encounter the first vulgarities in English and in Italian, you'll realize the book is written for adults. There is even a sex scene.
Historical novels tend to be told in the present tense these days, to bring the past to life in the reader's mind, and this novel is no exception. Please don't complain about this in the reviews. I'm very tired of reading people's complaints because they don't want to read more than a few pages written in present tense.
If you read ten pages plus, you won't even realize it is in present tense any more, and you'll just enjoy the intimate closeness the tense creates with the events and the main character. Give it a try. You might actually enjoy it, like so many others, especially younger readers who devour whole popular series in the present tense.
Just because it is unfamiliar to you doesn't make it wrong, or deserving of terrible reviews or terrible ratings. Okay, enough said...
Fra Lippi was not a very good friar, but this first book only covers his life up to his parting with early Renaissance artist Masaccio, his mentor and surrogate father figure. All the really scandalous things occur later.
The book's Prologue is deceptive, suggesting that the artist's whole life will be covered in the book. That is not the case. Future volumes will cover the later periods.
Each volume will presumable present the artists and local bigwigs from that era, along with some major artworks, just like this first book does. How those artworks came to be created is covered in quite a bit of detail.
Please visit my Italophile Book Reviews for the full and illustrated review. I received a review-copy of the book. This is my honest review.
http://italophilebookreviews.blogspot...
In this book you might be deceived by the simple style into thinking this book is written for teens. When you encounter the first vulgarities in English and in Italian, you'll realize the book is written for adults. There is even a sex scene.
Historical novels tend to be told in the present tense these days, to bring the past to life in the reader's mind, and this novel is no exception. Please don't complain about this in the reviews. I'm very tired of reading people's complaints because they don't want to read more than a few pages written in present tense.
If you read ten pages plus, you won't even realize it is in present tense any more, and you'll just enjoy the intimate closeness the tense creates with the events and the main character. Give it a try. You might actually enjoy it, like so many others, especially younger readers who devour whole popular series in the present tense.
Just because it is unfamiliar to you doesn't make it wrong, or deserving of terrible reviews or terrible ratings. Okay, enough said...
Fra Lippi was not a very good friar, but this first book only covers his life up to his parting with early Renaissance artist Masaccio, his mentor and surrogate father figure. All the really scandalous things occur later.
The book's Prologue is deceptive, suggesting that the artist's whole life will be covered in the book. That is not the case. Future volumes will cover the later periods.
Each volume will presumable present the artists and local bigwigs from that era, along with some major artworks, just like this first book does. How those artworks came to be created is covered in quite a bit of detail.
Please visit my Italophile Book Reviews for the full and illustrated review. I received a review-copy of the book. This is my honest review.
http://italophilebookreviews.blogspot...
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