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Cupid and the Silent Goddess
The painting Allegory with Venus and Cupid has long fascinated visitors to London’s National Gallery, as well as the millions more who have seen it reproduced in books. It is one of the most beautiful paintings of the nude ever made. In 1544, Duke Cosimo de’ Medici of Florence commissioned the artist Bronzino to create the painting to be sent as a diplomatic gift to King François I of France. As well as the academic mystery of what the strange figures in the painting represent, there is a human who were the models in the Florence of 1544 who posed for the gods and strange creatures? Alan Fisk’s Cupid and the Silent Goddess imagines how the creation of this painting might have touched the lives of everyone who was involved with Bronzino’s apprentice Giuseppe, the mute and mysterious Angelina who is forced to model for Venus, the brutal sculptor Baccio Bandinelli and his son, and the good-hearted nun Sister Benedicta and her friend the old English priest Father Fleccia, both secret practitioners of alchemy. As the painting takes shape, it causes episodes of fear and cruelty, but the ending lies perhaps in the gift of Venus. ‘A witty and entertaining romp set in the seedy world of Italian Renaissance artists.’ Award-winning historical novelist Elizabeth Chadwick (The Falcons of Montabard, The Winter Mantle). 'Alan Fisk, in his book Cupid and the Silent Goddess, captures the atmosphere of sixteenth-century Florence and the world of the artists excellently. This is a fascinating imaginative reconstruction of the events during the painting of Allegory with Venus and Cupid.' Marina Oliver, author of many historical novels and of Writing Historical Fiction.
216 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 2, 2023
When I was a young man, King François of France greatly admired my bare buttocks. I have that information only by hearsay, of course, because my buttocks were in the king’s château of Chambord while I was here in Italy.
That opening prepares you for an unusual work that mixes social commentary, art history, and politics in 16th century Florence -- but above all, brings a truly colourful set of characters to life. Interestingly, I recently wacthed Medici on TV, and I got the feeling that the Cosimo de' Medici that the reader sees in Cupid and the Silent Goddess is closer to the real man than the one in the TV show.
The narrator, Giuseppe, gets a poor start in life: I was a burden not only because of my need, like any other boy, for my father to provide me with food, drink, clothes and beatings.. He is "given away" by his father to the artist Bronzino, the creator of the painting that this book is centred on. The model for Venus is Angelina, a statuesque beauty who is speech impaired. Around these two characters, is a cast of larger-than-life figures -- the Duke, the abusive but talented painter Bronzino, Bronzino's mentor Pontormo, a most abominable sculptor -- who keep the plot ticking quite fast.
I did think the style of writing tended towards telling rather than showing at some points, but that could be because there is much to tell (including specifics of the science of painting). .
Overall, a great historical fiction read with a high entertainment quotient.
That opening prepares you for an unusual work that mixes social commentary, art history, and politics in 16th century Florence -- but above all, brings a truly colourful set of characters to life. Interestingly, I recently wacthed Medici on TV, and I got the feeling that the Cosimo de' Medici that the reader sees in Cupid and the Silent Goddess is closer to the real man than the one in the TV show.
The narrator, Giuseppe, gets a poor start in life: I was a burden not only because of my need, like any other boy, for my father to provide me with food, drink, clothes and beatings.. He is "given away" by his father to the artist Bronzino, the creator of the painting that this book is centred on. The model for Venus is Angelina, a statuesque beauty who is speech impaired. Around these two characters, is a cast of larger-than-life figures -- the Duke, the abusive but talented painter Bronzino, Bronzino's mentor Pontormo, a most abominable sculptor -- who keep the plot ticking quite fast.
I did think the style of writing tended towards telling rather than showing at some points, but that could be because there is much to tell (including specifics of the science of painting). .
Overall, a great historical fiction read with a high entertainment quotient.
April 16, 2023
‘Cupid and the Silent Goddess’ is a non-fiction book written about a painting done in 1544, commissioned by the artist Bronzino and gifted to the King of France. The painting Allegory with Venus and Cupid is well-known amongst those who appreciate art.
The story behind the painting was very interesting to read. I found it very inspiring and educational at the same time. The author’s witty penmanship also added humor to the mix, making the book all the more enjoyable.
The book provides a beautiful rendition of beauty, love, and intrigue. I recommend this book to those who are into art and history. I found the approach novel and appreciated the effort in making it.
The story behind the painting was very interesting to read. I found it very inspiring and educational at the same time. The author’s witty penmanship also added humor to the mix, making the book all the more enjoyable.
The book provides a beautiful rendition of beauty, love, and intrigue. I recommend this book to those who are into art and history. I found the approach novel and appreciated the effort in making it.
September 28, 2022
I bought this book to read during a trip to Florence and for that it was perfect - giving even more atmosphere and some reasoned imaginings to life under the Medici reign. I also saw some of Bronzino and Pontormo’s work in the Uffizi. It only achieved 3 stars as the writing was a bit clunky not helped but poor proof reading (which seems to be a frequent feature of Kindle books).
January 24, 2014
I recommend this book very highly if you enjoy historical novels that bring history to life. It brought me into the 16th century Florentine life, with all it's warts, humanity, politics and art. A very enjoyable read. It's set during the time of Cosimo de' Medici, the first Duke of Florence, circa 1544. At heart the book is a romance. The dressing around that romance is what one expects from historical novels: the past come to life with all its warts and beauty and humanity.
The book features the temperamental artist Bronzino, who was a master of portraiture and allegorical paintings. He was also the official portrait painter of the de' Medici. The author traces Bronzino's work on the famous Cupid and the Silent Goddess, making the figures in the painting characters in his novel.
Cosimo de' Medici commissioned the painting as a gift for the French monarch Francois I. Bronzino instilled layered meaning into the painting, some meanings we can only guess at. Francois I liked to guess at the meanings, too, or so it is said. He liked his gift very much!
I did not want the book to end. The characters were so interesting, I wanted the story to just keep on going. The painter, his abused assistant, who narrates the story and models for the famous painting, Angelina, who is forced to model as Venus for the painting, a mysterious nun and priest, and other artists, as well as Cosimo himself, come alive through the story, just as Bronzino's portrait subjects come alive for us today looking at his paintings.
Please see my full and illustrated review at Italophile Book Reviews
http://italophilebookreviews.blogspot...
The book features the temperamental artist Bronzino, who was a master of portraiture and allegorical paintings. He was also the official portrait painter of the de' Medici. The author traces Bronzino's work on the famous Cupid and the Silent Goddess, making the figures in the painting characters in his novel.
Cosimo de' Medici commissioned the painting as a gift for the French monarch Francois I. Bronzino instilled layered meaning into the painting, some meanings we can only guess at. Francois I liked to guess at the meanings, too, or so it is said. He liked his gift very much!
I did not want the book to end. The characters were so interesting, I wanted the story to just keep on going. The painter, his abused assistant, who narrates the story and models for the famous painting, Angelina, who is forced to model as Venus for the painting, a mysterious nun and priest, and other artists, as well as Cosimo himself, come alive through the story, just as Bronzino's portrait subjects come alive for us today looking at his paintings.
Please see my full and illustrated review at Italophile Book Reviews
http://italophilebookreviews.blogspot...
July 9, 2009
A clever imagining of the story behind the creation of Bronzino's enigmatic painting, "Allegory with Venus and Cupid."
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews