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Unfinished: The Inspired Life of Elisabetta Sirani
They called her La Maestra.
Elisabetta Sirani was a talented and prolific artist in Seventeenth Century Italy. Trained by her father, she was running his studio by the time she was sixteen and earned her first official commission the following year. Over her short career she produced more than 200 paintings, etchings, and prints, had patrons that included royalty and noble Italian families, and founded one of the first art schools in Europe exclusively for women. When she died aged only 27 of a mysterious ailment, all of Bologna mourned.
Her fame has been eclipsed by her male counterparts, and her work often claimed as theirs. Doubted, scorned, admired, copied, and misunderstood, this is her story.
Elisabetta Sirani was a talented and prolific artist in Seventeenth Century Italy. Trained by her father, she was running his studio by the time she was sixteen and earned her first official commission the following year. Over her short career she produced more than 200 paintings, etchings, and prints, had patrons that included royalty and noble Italian families, and founded one of the first art schools in Europe exclusively for women. When she died aged only 27 of a mysterious ailment, all of Bologna mourned.
Her fame has been eclipsed by her male counterparts, and her work often claimed as theirs. Doubted, scorned, admired, copied, and misunderstood, this is her story.
357 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 7, 2022
24 people are currently reading
705 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Evans
15 books84 followersKelly Evans
Award-Winning Author
Kelly Evans writes historical fiction about real but little-known women from history. She earned a degree in medieval history before moving to London, England where she could usually be found ambling about one of the many museums. While continuing her historical studies, Kelly fell into investment banking and still has no idea how it happened. After a successful career, she moved back to Canada where she gave up corporate life to write full time. When not working on her novels, Kelly writes Audio Description scripts for visually impaired individuals. She enjoys studying medieval medicine and gardening, and watching old sci fi movies.
Read free excerpts from my novels here: https://kellyaevans.com
Award-Winning Author
Kelly Evans writes historical fiction about real but little-known women from history. She earned a degree in medieval history before moving to London, England where she could usually be found ambling about one of the many museums. While continuing her historical studies, Kelly fell into investment banking and still has no idea how it happened. After a successful career, she moved back to Canada where she gave up corporate life to write full time. When not working on her novels, Kelly writes Audio Description scripts for visually impaired individuals. She enjoys studying medieval medicine and gardening, and watching old sci fi movies.
Read free excerpts from my novels here: https://kellyaevans.com
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 23, 2022
Elisabetta Sirani, the subject of Unfinished: The Inspired Life of Elisabetta Sirani by Kelly Evans, was an Italian woman who lived in the seventeenth century. She faced numerous challenges as a result of her gender. Her life from age 9 until she died at age 27 is chronicled in the book, as are the challenges she had to overcome just because she was a woman living in the 1600s. This book provides a look into the life of an incredible artist who broke through gender barriers to achieve her dreams of becoming one of the most prominent women artists of the seventeenth century.
I enjoyed reading this historical fiction novel as it is one of my favorite genres to read. The author has done an excellent job of making readers feel like they knew Elisabetta, and they will really want to see her succeed. Andrea, Elisabetta’s famous artist father, was almost the villain as he constantly doubted his daughter’s skill simply because she was a woman.
My favorite aspect of this book was the relationship between Elisabetta and her sister, Barbara. I consider it to be one of the book’s primary focuses, and the bond that was formed between them allowed me to connect even more with the characters.
I appreciated the book’s history, information, themes of love and optimism. I liked learning about the baroque art era as I was not as familiar with it. Elisabetta’s works and commissions were exhibited throughout the narrative. The epilogue also gives historical context. Elisabetta Sirani is someone who was able to achieve success in a time when it was challenging for women to be taken seriously. Her story is one of perseverance in the face of adversity and is sure to inspire many readers.
Unfinished: The Inspired Life of Elisabetta Sirani is a fictional account of Elisabetta Sirani’s life based on factual information. This biographical fiction gives readers a look into the artist’s life with enough truth to understand the hardships she faced as a woman in the 1600s.
I enjoyed reading this historical fiction novel as it is one of my favorite genres to read. The author has done an excellent job of making readers feel like they knew Elisabetta, and they will really want to see her succeed. Andrea, Elisabetta’s famous artist father, was almost the villain as he constantly doubted his daughter’s skill simply because she was a woman.
My favorite aspect of this book was the relationship between Elisabetta and her sister, Barbara. I consider it to be one of the book’s primary focuses, and the bond that was formed between them allowed me to connect even more with the characters.
I appreciated the book’s history, information, themes of love and optimism. I liked learning about the baroque art era as I was not as familiar with it. Elisabetta’s works and commissions were exhibited throughout the narrative. The epilogue also gives historical context. Elisabetta Sirani is someone who was able to achieve success in a time when it was challenging for women to be taken seriously. Her story is one of perseverance in the face of adversity and is sure to inspire many readers.
Unfinished: The Inspired Life of Elisabetta Sirani is a fictional account of Elisabetta Sirani’s life based on factual information. This biographical fiction gives readers a look into the artist’s life with enough truth to understand the hardships she faced as a woman in the 1600s.
March 27, 2022
Very well written, captured from the point of view of a young woman in the 1600. Enjoyed the story and all of the history, and the perspective of young women of the time.
March 27, 2022
Ecco Femina: Behold the Woman.
Disappearing into her work, Elisabetta focussed not on the canvas but on the picture she saw in her mind. Her hand was merely a tool, how her vision would be set to paper. In her head, however, she could feel the breeze that ruffled Francis’ robe and the saviour’s hair and smell the wildflowers that grew on the nearby hill and touch the soft wool of the sheep that stood by the saint, staring up at him in complete adoration.
I knew very little about this woman who came to be known as La Maestra, and the fact that I emerged from reading this story by Kelly Evans with a huge appreciation for this artist is a credit to the author’s rapturous skill in revealing this woman’s life.
Elisabetta Sirani, born in Bologna Italy in 1638, was the oldest of the children born to Margherita and Andrea Sirani. Her father, Andrea, was already a well-known artist of his time, and a student of the famous Guido Reni. Elisabetta far exceeded anything her father imagined for his daughter, especially since he believed that women could never excel as an artist the way men could, thus Elisabetta was forced to push herself to prove her father and the entire male-dominated community wrong. And she does this with incredible skill and power with every stroke, with every decision, and with every commission she acquires during her short life.
From the time she is sixteen till her death at the age of 27, she produces more than 200 paintings, etchings, and prints, for patrons from the local merchants to the houses of the Medicis, and on to the palaces of royalty; not to mention, she founded one of the first art schools for women in Europe.
“With no one else around, she allowed herself to relax entirely and become part of the studio’s atomosphere. She was the oil paint, the chalk, and the canvas, and it was her.”
Throughout history, the names of famous men artists are quite well-known, so to hear this woman’s story in an age when women’s roles were relegated to marriage and child-bearing is simply astounding. She was, indeed, a woman far beyond her time, sacrificing her own desire for love and children to focus on her career and her art, and proving to the whole world that her skill was her own and not simple recreations done by her father and signed with her name. And she had to deal with a father who continued to suppress her by insisting on taking the money for her commissions and time and again, hesitated to giving her control over the studio until his own failing health forced him to relent. Once she took the reins, she excelled all expectations, and provided her family with a very comfortable living, yet still, until the day she died, she battled with her father who never truly accepted her successes or fully gave his approval of her rise in the art world, even when she was accepted by the art community as a full-fledged ‘maestra’.
Again and again, throughout the story, we are presented with stories of Elisabetta’s commissions and her struggles, and her own bouts of sickness which, ultimately, led to her sudden death in 1665. Her maidservant, Lucia, was charged with poisoning her, but history shows that the artist most likely died of a ruptured peptic ulcer, which given the circumstances of the amount of art she produced, as well as the stress of managing a studio and dealing with criticism from her father and the outside world, was a likely reason for her developing such an ulcer.
Ms Evans own skill as an artist with words is on full display in this novel as she uses passages and words to paint a picture of this artist’s life with the same elegance and beauty of La Maestra. Not only in depicting the artist, herself, but the imagery of the settings is beautifully done, as this passage shows:
“Out running errands for the studio, she breathed in the musty autumn air, enjoying both the exercise and the freedom. She loved her studio and her home, but it was nice to escape outside and wander the piazzas, looking in windows and watching the people around her. As a child, she’d loved staring at the fashionable clothing and adornments in these windows, something her father had often called a frivolous waste of time. However, the items she saw left an indelible impression on her, these silks, satins, velvets, and brocades, and she’d returned home after each outing to try to replicate the folds, wrinkles, and sheens with paint. The results of this continual practice could be seen in the luxuriousness of the backgrounds and draping in her paintings.”
For lovers of powerful historical fiction with rich, elegant prose wrapped around an intriguing story of a woman before her time, a woman whose name needs elevating to the heights of Michaelangelo and DaVinci, then this luscious story needs to be added to your list of must reads. The characterization brings Elisabetta to life, and the relationship between her and her sister is deep and meaningful, as well as her own sufferings, heartbreaks, and sacrifices. Very highly recommended.
*****
“Unfinished: the Inspired Life of Elisabetta Sirani” by Kelly Evans receives five stars from The Historical Fiction Company and the “Highly Recommended” award.
Disappearing into her work, Elisabetta focussed not on the canvas but on the picture she saw in her mind. Her hand was merely a tool, how her vision would be set to paper. In her head, however, she could feel the breeze that ruffled Francis’ robe and the saviour’s hair and smell the wildflowers that grew on the nearby hill and touch the soft wool of the sheep that stood by the saint, staring up at him in complete adoration.
I knew very little about this woman who came to be known as La Maestra, and the fact that I emerged from reading this story by Kelly Evans with a huge appreciation for this artist is a credit to the author’s rapturous skill in revealing this woman’s life.
Elisabetta Sirani, born in Bologna Italy in 1638, was the oldest of the children born to Margherita and Andrea Sirani. Her father, Andrea, was already a well-known artist of his time, and a student of the famous Guido Reni. Elisabetta far exceeded anything her father imagined for his daughter, especially since he believed that women could never excel as an artist the way men could, thus Elisabetta was forced to push herself to prove her father and the entire male-dominated community wrong. And she does this with incredible skill and power with every stroke, with every decision, and with every commission she acquires during her short life.
From the time she is sixteen till her death at the age of 27, she produces more than 200 paintings, etchings, and prints, for patrons from the local merchants to the houses of the Medicis, and on to the palaces of royalty; not to mention, she founded one of the first art schools for women in Europe.
“With no one else around, she allowed herself to relax entirely and become part of the studio’s atomosphere. She was the oil paint, the chalk, and the canvas, and it was her.”
Throughout history, the names of famous men artists are quite well-known, so to hear this woman’s story in an age when women’s roles were relegated to marriage and child-bearing is simply astounding. She was, indeed, a woman far beyond her time, sacrificing her own desire for love and children to focus on her career and her art, and proving to the whole world that her skill was her own and not simple recreations done by her father and signed with her name. And she had to deal with a father who continued to suppress her by insisting on taking the money for her commissions and time and again, hesitated to giving her control over the studio until his own failing health forced him to relent. Once she took the reins, she excelled all expectations, and provided her family with a very comfortable living, yet still, until the day she died, she battled with her father who never truly accepted her successes or fully gave his approval of her rise in the art world, even when she was accepted by the art community as a full-fledged ‘maestra’.
Again and again, throughout the story, we are presented with stories of Elisabetta’s commissions and her struggles, and her own bouts of sickness which, ultimately, led to her sudden death in 1665. Her maidservant, Lucia, was charged with poisoning her, but history shows that the artist most likely died of a ruptured peptic ulcer, which given the circumstances of the amount of art she produced, as well as the stress of managing a studio and dealing with criticism from her father and the outside world, was a likely reason for her developing such an ulcer.
Ms Evans own skill as an artist with words is on full display in this novel as she uses passages and words to paint a picture of this artist’s life with the same elegance and beauty of La Maestra. Not only in depicting the artist, herself, but the imagery of the settings is beautifully done, as this passage shows:
“Out running errands for the studio, she breathed in the musty autumn air, enjoying both the exercise and the freedom. She loved her studio and her home, but it was nice to escape outside and wander the piazzas, looking in windows and watching the people around her. As a child, she’d loved staring at the fashionable clothing and adornments in these windows, something her father had often called a frivolous waste of time. However, the items she saw left an indelible impression on her, these silks, satins, velvets, and brocades, and she’d returned home after each outing to try to replicate the folds, wrinkles, and sheens with paint. The results of this continual practice could be seen in the luxuriousness of the backgrounds and draping in her paintings.”
For lovers of powerful historical fiction with rich, elegant prose wrapped around an intriguing story of a woman before her time, a woman whose name needs elevating to the heights of Michaelangelo and DaVinci, then this luscious story needs to be added to your list of must reads. The characterization brings Elisabetta to life, and the relationship between her and her sister is deep and meaningful, as well as her own sufferings, heartbreaks, and sacrifices. Very highly recommended.
*****
“Unfinished: the Inspired Life of Elisabetta Sirani” by Kelly Evans receives five stars from The Historical Fiction Company and the “Highly Recommended” award.
August 10, 2022
Actual rating: 3.5 stars, rounded up for engaging writing and the story of an artist much renowned in her own time, but not known to me.
While this is a relatively thin story, it follows the life of the artist, Elisabetta Sinari in a detailed and authentic way. Her short life was not full of exciting adventures or hairbreadth escapes, but she was remarkable just the same and left a rich legacy, not only of masterful paintings, but of blazing a path for future women artists, all while showing immense strength and courage in the face of a debilitating and finally, fatal condition. The author certainly chose the right descriptor: "Inspiring," because that noble ideal was present through-out. If the cover painting of Portia Wounding Her Thigh, is anything to go by, she was an Old Master of the first rank. I found it encouraging, as well as surprising, that her talent and abilities were so well recognized during her own life time! For instance, she was honored by the Accademia (an official organization for Italian artists of the day,) as a proper member in full standing! This was at a time when academic counterparts in other European countries were adamant against allowing females to their ranks. Quite an achievement in any case, but especially for a woman of the mid-seventeenth century!
The narrative uses the passing years as the framework of the story. And even though there is not too much meat on those bones, it was still well told and made as much of slight happenings as possible. The reader was given a front-row seat to the intimate interaction between family members, for that was the setting of Elisabetta's truncated life. I also enjoyed the summary of what happened to the other principle characters included at the end of the book.
This is a worthwhile book that I fear isn't getting the attention it deserves. I, for one, am happy to have come across it!
While this is a relatively thin story, it follows the life of the artist, Elisabetta Sinari in a detailed and authentic way. Her short life was not full of exciting adventures or hairbreadth escapes, but she was remarkable just the same and left a rich legacy, not only of masterful paintings, but of blazing a path for future women artists, all while showing immense strength and courage in the face of a debilitating and finally, fatal condition. The author certainly chose the right descriptor: "Inspiring," because that noble ideal was present through-out. If the cover painting of Portia Wounding Her Thigh, is anything to go by, she was an Old Master of the first rank. I found it encouraging, as well as surprising, that her talent and abilities were so well recognized during her own life time! For instance, she was honored by the Accademia (an official organization for Italian artists of the day,) as a proper member in full standing! This was at a time when academic counterparts in other European countries were adamant against allowing females to their ranks. Quite an achievement in any case, but especially for a woman of the mid-seventeenth century!
The narrative uses the passing years as the framework of the story. And even though there is not too much meat on those bones, it was still well told and made as much of slight happenings as possible. The reader was given a front-row seat to the intimate interaction between family members, for that was the setting of Elisabetta's truncated life. I also enjoyed the summary of what happened to the other principle characters included at the end of the book.
This is a worthwhile book that I fear isn't getting the attention it deserves. I, for one, am happy to have come across it!
April 18, 2022
Absolutely loved this book about Elisabetta Sirani (known to her family as Isabet). Elisabetta isi born into an artistic family; her father is a well known artist and several of her siblings also have considerable artistic talent. Against all odds, Elisabetta takes over her father's studio and students, and develops a devoted following of her own, in a time when women just didn't do that. Elisabetta sacrifices love and children of her own for her art. She also had to content with others (including her father) claimer her art as their own. Isabet was an inspiration to aspiring female artists of her time. Her's is a story you won't want to miss!
January 25, 2022
This is the story of a relatively unknown (to the most of us) female Baroque artist who was so talented she was able to rise above the usual prejudice against her sex. The daughter of another famous painter, Giovanni Andrea Sirani, our Elisabetta fought against an even more personal demon: her father’s jealousy. Andrea was quite talented in his own right, and was taken down, not by his daughter’s popularity but by a debilitating illness that left him incapable of painting. Elisabetta’s talents were apparent from the first, but her father was absolutely unwilling—or unable—to accept that a woman was capable of following in his footsteps. When the time came that he was no longer able to run his own studio, he was forced to give her the opportunity, but even then he insisted on managing the finances. She quickly learned the tricks of the trade, so to speak, and took on students, while accepting commissions increasingly on her own. Poor Andrea just couldn’t cope with her success, and poor Elisabetta couldn’t gain his approval. It was a battle between them that was to have no end.
Meanwhile, Elisabetta proved herself more than a Maestra, and the author has done a marvelous job of conveying her talent:
The first line was done, a soft curve. Then the next, a thicker one. Using her thumb, she smudged it, creating a shadow effect. Another stroke, thinner and more elegant. The room around her disappeared as the picture from her head slowly came to life on the paper. She drew and smudged and shaded, her hand connected to her mind so solidly there was no concept of doubt. She and the drawing were one.
As a reader, I felt like I was there in the room with her. Elisabetta’s talents were so unexpected and her technique so rapid, that at first people joined her father in their disbelief. It wasn’t until she hosted an exhibition where she painted in public that people began to understand that she was for real. Then the commissions started rolling in. But between her work, her students, and the conflict with her father, Elizabetta never seemed to get a break. Her output was extraordinary. But was there room for her to have a real life?
Meanwhile, Elisabetta proved herself more than a Maestra, and the author has done a marvelous job of conveying her talent:
The first line was done, a soft curve. Then the next, a thicker one. Using her thumb, she smudged it, creating a shadow effect. Another stroke, thinner and more elegant. The room around her disappeared as the picture from her head slowly came to life on the paper. She drew and smudged and shaded, her hand connected to her mind so solidly there was no concept of doubt. She and the drawing were one.
As a reader, I felt like I was there in the room with her. Elisabetta’s talents were so unexpected and her technique so rapid, that at first people joined her father in their disbelief. It wasn’t until she hosted an exhibition where she painted in public that people began to understand that she was for real. Then the commissions started rolling in. But between her work, her students, and the conflict with her father, Elizabetta never seemed to get a break. Her output was extraordinary. But was there room for her to have a real life?
May 18, 2022
Elisabetta is an artist in 17th century Italy who was so talented she was able to succeed despite the prejudice against women common at the time.
Her father is a well known artist and several of her siblings also have artistic talents.
After a debilitating illness that left him incapable of painting, Elisabetta successfully takes over her father's studio and students, and develops quite a devoted following, much to her father’s chagrin. He hates that a woman has replaced him.
She produced more than 200 works of art, had patrons that included royalty and noble Italian families, and founded one of the first art schools in Europe exclusively for women. When she died at 27, all of Bologna mourned.
This is my first time hearing about Elisabetta. What a fascinating story.
Thank you for introducing her to me, Kelly Evans.
Her father is a well known artist and several of her siblings also have artistic talents.
After a debilitating illness that left him incapable of painting, Elisabetta successfully takes over her father's studio and students, and develops quite a devoted following, much to her father’s chagrin. He hates that a woman has replaced him.
She produced more than 200 works of art, had patrons that included royalty and noble Italian families, and founded one of the first art schools in Europe exclusively for women. When she died at 27, all of Bologna mourned.
This is my first time hearing about Elisabetta. What a fascinating story.
Thank you for introducing her to me, Kelly Evans.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2022
Absolutely wonderful book about a true life artist Elisabetta Sirani. You will get lost in her world as she creates. You will get angry with her, laugh with her and cry for her. Her short life was consumed by her art and the stress of supporting her family. The author does her a great service in honoring her life. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
December 20, 2022
When I began reading this book, I was a little confused. I thought it was a narrative biography, and almost didn't want to continue. However, I'm glad I continued reading about this unique artist, with her amazing talent!! I loved reading about all her various art commissions and her process of creating them. I felt as irritated as she did when people didn't believe she was the one doing the work, as if a woman couldn't be that talented. I get that women were seen as inferior (not that such attitudes don't still exist), but I really wanted to slap some sense into her father. His level of jealousy was so annoying and, quite honestly, sad. Thank goodness she had her sisters and the two older gentlemen as agents who were supportive. Yet, with all her talent and fame, her life ends in such a sad and painful manner. I also appreciate the author providing information at the end of the book, giving actual historical facts about Elisabetta Sirani, her father, her siblings, and others in the book. It serves as a springboard for learning more about female artists of the Renaissance and beyond. I definitely recommend this book. The author does a fantastic job of portraying the life of Sirani in a most vivid way. Thank you to NetGalley and Eska Publishing for this advanced copy, which I voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 2, 2024
Interesting
Elisabetta Sirani was an Bologna artist in the 1600’s who became well known and who had a talent for seeing compositions and being able to sketch them out very quickly, something not often done at the time
Although this is a work of fiction inspired by the known facts about Elisabetta, it reads like a biography and gave me a window into something I didn’t really know anything about until I started reading this book. I learnt so much about the symbolism in art, how different things can mean different things and that portrayals that aren’t always traditional can give the viewer a different perspective of the figures depicted
The book does jump about a bit in terms of time frames with the main focus being on the artwork and the relationships Elisabetta had with her family and those she did works for and it could be a bit odd but the story did flow although I will admit to not being sure on the timeframe a few times but this didn’t really impact on my enjoyment of the story
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a story with a biographical theme, but who also enjoy art, history and another world to our normal one
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for allowing me access to this book
Elisabetta Sirani was an Bologna artist in the 1600’s who became well known and who had a talent for seeing compositions and being able to sketch them out very quickly, something not often done at the time
Although this is a work of fiction inspired by the known facts about Elisabetta, it reads like a biography and gave me a window into something I didn’t really know anything about until I started reading this book. I learnt so much about the symbolism in art, how different things can mean different things and that portrayals that aren’t always traditional can give the viewer a different perspective of the figures depicted
The book does jump about a bit in terms of time frames with the main focus being on the artwork and the relationships Elisabetta had with her family and those she did works for and it could be a bit odd but the story did flow although I will admit to not being sure on the timeframe a few times but this didn’t really impact on my enjoyment of the story
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a story with a biographical theme, but who also enjoy art, history and another world to our normal one
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for allowing me access to this book
May 21, 2022
Excellent book. It is the story of art and the strenght of a little know artist. The author did a great job portraying the life and times of Elisabetta. The research done of this book to include information of her works of art give the story such authenticity that you feel you really get to know the artist and what she could produce in such a relatively short period of time.
You see in this book strong female characters and how the men of the time, including her father, did not appreciate that a woman's skills could be better then theirs. While jelous of her skills, he Father never seems to understand that she was indeed much more capable than he ever was.
This would be a great book club read.
You see in this book strong female characters and how the men of the time, including her father, did not appreciate that a woman's skills could be better then theirs. While jelous of her skills, he Father never seems to understand that she was indeed much more capable than he ever was.
This would be a great book club read.
August 24, 2023
Absolutely loved this book about Elisabetta Sirani (known to her family as Isabet). Elisabetta isi born into an artistic family; her father is a well known artist and several of her siblings also have considerable artistic talent. Against all odds, Elisabetta takes over her father's studio and students, and develops a devoted following of her own, in a time when women just didn't do that. Elisabetta sacrifices love and children of her own for her art. She also had to content with others (including her father) claimer her art as their own. Isabet was an inspiration to aspiring female artists of her time. Her's is a story you won't want to miss!
March 1, 2024
I’m both heartbroken to learn of Elisabeth Sirani’s story and absolutely delighted to know of her, I so enjoyed this offering of Herstory and am thankful to the author for her work in telling it to us, and in such a way that I was just lost in it. and I think this may be her best work yet (keep it coming, Kelly!).
Did you know of this talented and tragic Female master artist? Whether you did or not, this story helps the reader see her in a delightfully human light, complete with emotional imaginings of her loves and longing, her fights and disappointments, her day-to-day, and her utter lack of understanding of her dire condition. I find it very plausible, how the condition arose from her life and choices and the choices of those who should have done better by her. Thank goodness for the others who did, and that we have access to her paintings. I was mesmerized.
Did you know of this talented and tragic Female master artist? Whether you did or not, this story helps the reader see her in a delightfully human light, complete with emotional imaginings of her loves and longing, her fights and disappointments, her day-to-day, and her utter lack of understanding of her dire condition. I find it very plausible, how the condition arose from her life and choices and the choices of those who should have done better by her. Thank goodness for the others who did, and that we have access to her paintings. I was mesmerized.
March 7, 2022
I throughly enjoyed the storyline
September 5, 2024
I'm so happy I won a copy of this book from Goodreads!
Telling the story of Elisabetta Sirani, one of the few and best female artists of her time, this book is a must read for any art lover or feminist!
Telling the story of Elisabetta Sirani, one of the few and best female artists of her time, this book is a must read for any art lover or feminist!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews