Reading in the Garden

Beautiful Mona Lisa; La Joconde; La Gioconda The  Stolen  Lady by Laura Morelli: Fascinating! I was totally immersed in this historical fiction of Mona Lisa’s life and how centuries later her portrait, along with other art from the Louvre, was kept safe during WWII. I learned so much.   The author’s descriptions really brought me back to the time period of the Italian Renaissance. I could imagine the reek of the vats of dye at the Arno River, hear the clacking of the silk looms, and I could picture how the butchers tossed scraps of meat cuttings into the river, adding to the unbearable stench emanating from it, especially in the hot summer.   I learned about the class wars during that time period and the Medici Family’s role in it; how DaVinci had a reputation for not completing his projects; and his dislike for Michelangelo who was creating the  Statue of David  at the same time DaVinci started painting the  Mona Lisa.   DaVinci’s first person narration toggled back to the third perso