The Stolen Lady by Laura Morelli
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 na...