Tuscan Daughter

by Lisa Rochon

A novel of beauty and inspiration set in Renaissance Florence about a young and defiant female artist searching for her mother

Florence, 1500—a city that glitters with wealth and artistic genius is also a place of fierce political intrigue, walled off from the unrest in the surrounding Tuscan countryside. In this moment, a peasant girl finds herself alone after her father is killed and her mother disappears. Young Beatrice must dare to enter the city to sell her family’s olive oil in order to survive, but also to search the streets and opium dens for her missing, grieving mother. 

Walking barefoot from her outlying village, Beatrice is given grudging permission to pass through the city gates to sell olive oil to the artists—Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli—who toil to elevate the status of the Florentine Republic. Lonely yet defiant, the peasant girl draws on the stone walls of Florence in secret as a way to express her pain. While desperately searching the city for her mother, Beatrice befriends the upstart Michelangelo as he struggles to sculpt the David. She also comes to know a cloth merchant’s wife who is having her portrait painted by the aging Leonardo da Vinci, renowned through the land as Master of the Arts. Bonds deepen even while Michelangelo and Leonardo are pitted against each other. 

Set during five epic years in the early 1500s when Florence was rebranding itself through its creative geniuses, Tuscan Daughter reveals the humanity and struggles of a young woman longing to find the only family she has left and be an artist in her own right, and the way she influences the artistic masters of the time to stake everything on the power of beauty to transform and heal.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Italy, Historical, Fiction, Audiobook, Book Club, Art

416 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 13, 2021

Reviews

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was ok, a bit repetitive with a slow winding story. I let myself get swept along but I would ask for more. Although, I definitely felt like I could feel the warmth of the Tuscan sun and taste the sweetness of the olive oil. Overall, it was good.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Grieving is a boat filled with water that’s about to sink. Always on the brink of tipping over.”

“Mourning is a boat that’s already overturned so that everybody can see the ruin. The people you trust can help right it again.”

With so many wonderful historical fiction books available about the Italian renaissance, authors need to find a unique way of presenting history to be successful. Rochon has introduced a fictional peasant girl from Settignano, a small village on the outskirts of Florence, to highlight and interpret the five years between 1500-1505 when both Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo Buonarotti lived in Florence. By allowing us a glimpse of history through a female gaze, Rochon has elevated her prose and spun a unique twist on interpreting history. She shows how superstars of the Renaissance quite possibly struggled with their own personal demons and harsh judgement. In Rochon’s own words she set out to show “outsiders who are geniuses and geniuses who are outsiders.” Her masterpiece is proof of her accomplishment.

At thirteen years old Beatrice finds herself alone when her father dies, and her mother, unable to cope with the depression, runs off. Your heart will break when you read about Beatrice fending off Pisan marauders and stealing food to survive. To make ends meet, she travels barefoot to the walls of Florence, hoping to be permitted to sell her olive oil within the city walls. Each day she keeps her eye out for her mother in the opium dens, while selling to the artists. You’ll recognize names such as Leonardo, Michelangelo, Verrocchio, Ghirlandaio, Machiavelli, Perugino and Boticelli and marvel at the extensive research Rochon has executed in order to make this story come alive.

Because I love this historical period, I’ve read many books about the David commission and carving but what I loved most about this book was that Rochon chose to focus on Madonna Lisa Gherardini del Giocondo – the Mona Lisa – and give insight into her mysterious gaze which has perplexed art historians for ages.

I loved that Rochon highlighted characters loving and supporting each other in their various struggles. The analogy she uses of us all being different branches of the same tree, drives this point home. Her characters acknowledge the genius in each other despite their competitive nature. The kindness shown by many is what keeps them alive during this cutthroat period. Rochon does not downplay homosexuality amongst those in the art world.

If you appreciate historical fiction, particularly the Renaissance, this story of personal struggle, artistic rivalry and unrequited love needs to be on your radar come July 13, 2021.

I was gifted this early copy by Lisa Rochon, Harper Collins Canada, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Douglas Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written and very engaging book that delves deeply into the life of Florence at the start of the sixteenth century. It follows the life of a young and talented woman from a small village outside of Florence, who meets some of the most important artists of the day as she travels into the city to sell her farm's olive oil. An artist herself, though not traditionally trained, Beatrice becomes closely involved with both da Vinci and Michelangelo, who spent a few short years working together in Florence and competing for prestigious commissions. She watches as the David is Sculpted in Michelangelo's workshop and becomes friends with Lisa of the famous painting of da Vinci, as both of them become entwined by this woman's oft times complicated life. While much has been written about these artists lives individually, seldom if ever, have their stories been told with such a personal touch, with the incredibly well researched details of both them and the City they lived in, allowing us to see them with new eyes. Beatrice is a wonderful character and she fights her own battles that come about because of her poor upbringing and her gender that does not support her own life as a potential artist.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction, loves art, and who simply wants a fabulous read.

[Pat · Rating 2 out of 5]

I ended up skimming this book. Despite being very interested in the topic, the writing style didn't grab my interest. I found the characters flat, maybe because there was too much going on so development didn't happen. Also Beatrice should be a character to be admired but she came across to me as annoying, as did the almost immediate importance she had to the lives of Leonardo, Michelangelo and Lisa Gherardini.

[Rena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book immensely. I'm a fan of historical fiction, in general, and this novel is among the best I've read. It brought early 16th century Florence to life through a tapestry of characters, illuminating the timeless struggles of living in human society. People have been asking where I will travel when it feels safe to do so again, and I can say now, without a doubt, Florence.

[Amy Martinho · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was simply ok. I hesitated between a 2 and 3. The writing style was not for me, I would often find myself daydreaming while reading. Some pages held my attention and some I just wasn’t sure where it was taking me.

[Reta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tuscan Daughter by Lisa Rochon

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Avenue/HarperCollins Canada for a digital ARC for my honest review.

It's nice to see what life might have been like during the early 1500s when Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo lived in Florence. I found this historical fiction very intriguing and would recommend it to anyone interested in the people, art and architecture of this time. The author certainly did her research to bring history alive.

#NetGalley #TuscanDaughter

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tuscan Daughter is a beautiful retelling of the great artwork and artists we know. But it is a story that is made modern through Lisa's exploration of friendship, sexuality, jealousy, struggle and survival.

[Marni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is set in 1500 Florence, Italy. Leonardo da Vinci has returned to Florence after exile - as an older man. Michelangelo, who was born and raised outside Florence, is back to create the statue of David. The author created a young female artist who meets each of these men when she takes olive oil to Florence to sell to artists. The author has written a wonderful story that pulled me in from the beginning.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting piece of historical fiction about Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo through the eyes of a village woman.

[Teresa LaBella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This unlikely choice for my TBR pile transported me to a time in history I'd never thought to visit and peer into the souls of revered masters through the eyes of a woman who loved them.

Beatrice lives outside the tenuous protection within the 16th century walls of Florence. Her father is murdered by marauders. Her mother abandons her. Selling olive oil is her only means to survive. Leonardo da Vinci and Michaelangelo buy what she sells, see the artist within her, befriend and mentor her. Beatrice draws on her strength to encourage the rivals in the midst of creating their respective masterworks: da Vinci's Mona Lisa and Michaelangelo's David.

Words chosen by the author for her characters are the stuff of dog-eared pages and margin notes, if you own the book, and post-it note stickers for later reference when borrowed.

Leonardo berates himself for The Last Supper fresco that won't stick to the wall and struggles with why his effort is not enough. Michaelangelo reflects on his work and says to Beatrice "When I draw or sculpt, I'm trying to think about all the energy that is burning inside a person." He asks her to compare his art to his rival da Vinci, ponders if Leonardo is in love with the people he paints. She responds "Not in the same way as you. Your art honors the flesh and blood of the hero. Leonardo makes us see the force of nature." When the two titans collide, Michaelangelo tells da Vinci "You have to risk everything to make a work of art matter." Leonardo concedes "You have youth on your side. Take a risk ... there doesn't have to be a beginning, or an end. One remarkable moment."

Whether intended or not, Lisa Rachon seems to make a statement on history repeating itself through the centuries in words written and spoken by a healer accused of being a witch. "Let me tell you something. The world is broken. People have gone mad."

The research required to write this novel, and the passion it took to bring it to life, boggles this author's mind. "Tuscan Daughter" is simply, beautifully brilliant.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

“La moglie del mercante di stoffe” ci trasporta nella Firenze di inizio ‘500, nelle sue vicende storiche e politiche, tra i suoi artisti di fama e la gente comune.
Il punto di vista scelto è soprattutto femminile, figure che all’epoca comparivano solo nei dipinti prendono vita per narrarci la loro storia quotidiana, fatta di fatica, difficoltà e compromessi, unendo in qualche modo le popolane e le ricche dame in un unico fronte di solidarietà femminile.
La giovane Beatrice è rimasta sola dopo la morte del padre e l’abbandono della madre, e cerca di sopravvivere vendendo l’unica cosa che possiede: l’olio del suo uliveto. Così di buon’ora prende il suo carretto traballante e scende dalle colline di Settignano fino in città.
Il primo impatto è spaventoso: la città è circondata da mura e una folla rumorosa di contadini sporchi e cenciosi si accalcano alle porte per entrare. Le guardie fanno pagare il pedaggio e spesso prendono di mira qualcuno per divertirsi a maltrattarlo. Quel giorno, nonostante Beatrice faccia il possibile per sembrare un anonimo ragazzo, con la vecchia giubba del padre e il cappuccio ben calcato sulla testa, le guardie se la prendono con lei. Il resto della folla bada agli affari suoi, o si gode lo spettacolo, ma un signore elegante e raffinato sceso da una carrozza viene in suo aiuto. È così che Beatrice fa la conoscenza di Leonardo da Vinci, appena tornato in città.
La ragazza conosce già diversi artisti, visto che non può permettersi di vendere al mercato e loro sono i suoi unici clienti. Ha la segreta passione per disegnare, e spesso approfitta delle consegne per carpire qualche segreto sulla loro arte. Come donna non potrebbe mai diventare apprendista di qualcuno, né aspirare a ricevere commissioni importanti, ma si sforza comunque di esercitarsi, disegnando sui muri con legnetti di carbone. È anche un modo per farsi coraggio ed esorcizzare il dolore della perdita e la paura del futuro.
Poco dopo fa amicizia con la sua vicina di terreno Agnella, giovane vedova che vive dignitosamente facendo la guaritrice, e preparando rimedi a base di erbe. È una donna saggia e indipendente, che molti sospettano essere una strega. I suoi servigi sono spesso richiesti anche dalle ricche famiglie di Firenze, e tramite lei Beatrice conosce Lisa Gherardini, la moglie di un ricco mercante di lana. Se all’inizio Beatrice ne invidia il lusso e i privilegi, ben presto si rende conto che la vita non è molto migliore nemmeno per lei. Ha un marito burbero, sei figli piccoli, di cui una molto malata, e per mantenere il suo posto in società è costretta a seguire le ridicole mode del momento, come mettersi vernice bianca sui denti prima dei ricevimenti importanti. Nonostante ciò anche lei, come Agnella, è una donna forte e intelligente, e la presenza di Beatrice, con la sua vitalità spontanea, l’aiuta a ritrovare coraggio.
Sempre tramite Agnella, che gli ha fatto da balia, conosce anche il giovane scultore Michelangelo. Tra i due nasce una bella amicizia, perché si capiscono al volo. Il giovane ha un carattere spigoloso ma anche anticonformista, e non trova niente di strano che Beatrice voglia disegnare, anzi lui stesso le dà qualche consiglio.
Beatrice ormai è conosciuta e benvoluta come la ragazza dell’olio d’oliva, e si è fatta molti amici in città, passando con disinvoltura da un ambiente sociale all’altro, ma non ha mai smesso di cercare sua madre, anche per sapere perché l’abbia abbandonata, proprio quando aveva più bisogno di lei. Impiegherà qualche anno prima di incontrarla in modo fortuito, e a quel punto si renderà conto che non è più la donna di prima e che in ogni caso non ha più bisogno di lei.
Alla storia di Beatrice si intreccia quella di Lisa, e del suo rapporto di amicizia con Leonardo, che dovrebbe farle un ritratto, ma non riesce mai a terminarlo perché vuole che sia perfetto e che riesca a cogliere tutta la complessità della donna.
E c’è la storia dello stesso Leonardo, che ormai cinquantenne sente il peso del tempo che passa, facendogli mettere in discussione tutta la sua vita e il suo lavoro fin lì. Vorrebbe avere la libertà di studiare e sperimentare ciò che gli interessa al momento, come il modo di volare, invece è costretto ad accettare commissioni per mantenere sé stesso e i suoi assistenti.
Michelangelo a sua volta è alle prese con la gigantesca scultura del David e con i propri demoni interiori. La rivalità tra i due grandi artisti è molto forte, fatta di gelosia ma anche di una riluttante ammirazione reciproca.
La Firenze rinascimentale è una piccola città, fatta in gran parte di mattoni e abitata da cinquantamila anime, che aspira comunque a riacquistare il prestigio politico e culturale che aveva sotto il governo dei Medici.
Sul suo paesaggio svetta la recente cupola del Duomo creata da Brunelleschi, e intorno ci sono i palazzi, le chiese e monasteri, i mercati, i vicoli delle botteghe artigiane, i bagni pubblici, le taverne malfamate. Tutto ciò prende vita grazie al grande lavoro di ricerca dell’autrice, che ha arricchito il suo romanzo di moltissimi dettagli: l’abbigliamento e gli ornamenti di ricchi e poveri, i cibi sulla tavola, il galateo, le abitudini quotidiane.
Nonostante il titolo, Monna Lisa non è la protagonista, ma solo uno dei molti personaggi femminili a cui viene data voce. Possiamo quindi avere uno scorcio sugli eventi inusuale, tramite un intero mondo che di solito non compare nelle cronache ufficiali: quello delle donne. A unirle è la forza con cui affrontano un destino che molto spesso non si sono scelte e il fatto che si sforzano comunque di restare se stesse.
A fianco a loro abbiamo i punti di vista di due grandi artisti, di cui conosciamo la vita e le opere ma spesso non il loro pensiero o le difficoltà. Anche il loro è un punto di vista diverso, aperto alle novità e meno intriso di regole sociali e pregiudizi.
La passione per l’arte, per la bellezza delle cose semplici e delle emozioni autentiche, finisce per intrecciare le vite di tutti i protagonisti in un grande affresco variegato ma armonioso.
Un romanzo da non perdere per chi ama le storie in grado di trasportare i lettori in un altro tempo e luogo e le protagoniste femminili forti e indipendenti.

[Megan]

DNF 9/9/21. So slow, not able to get attached to any characters.

[Claudia Cox · Rating 1 out of 5]

well, I quit reading this halfway through; it didn’t hold my interest I’m afraid....so nothing to report; have returned to library....

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit too predictable for me.

[Alison Moy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had a lot of potential, but fell a little flat in my opinion.

[Gail]

Tuscan Daughter by Lisa Rochon 2021 as reviewed by Gail M. Murray
Author Lisa Rochon has set her debut novel during five epic years in Renaissance Florence (1500-1509). It opens with the return of two great artists and native sons: Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo di Buonarroti. Leonardo has been appointed to paint The Battle of Anghiari as well as an altar piece for Santissima Annunziata while twenty-seven year old Michelangelo has been commissioned by the monied Wool Guild to sculpt the biblical hero David from a huge piece of Carrara marble.
Leonardo, tall, noble and nearing fifty with white hair and silver white beard is troubled by the loss of his youth, reputation and status in Florence, while Michelangelo is gaining a reputation as a result of La Pieta in Rome. Raphael exclaims “Your sculpture of the young mother holding her dead son on her knees. My God, love and forgiveness are alive in that work.” (p124)
The two great artists are connected through the fictional protagonist, Beatrice, a thirteen year old peasant girl, an aspiring artist, given to charcoal drawings of birds on city buildings. A victim of the simmering feud between Florence and Pisa, abandoned by her traumatized mother after her father is murdered by marauding Pisans; Beatrice makes the long journey barefoot from her hill town Settignano to sell olive oil in the dirt lanes behind the Duomo to the city’s artists.
Beatrice accompanies her neighbor and healer, Agnello, to attend the ailing Lisa Gherardini del Giocondo, whose portrait her silk merchant husband has arranged for da Vinci to paint. We know this will become his most celebrated work Mona Lisa. Through Beatrice, the reader is given insight into these celebrated artists, their goals, rivalry, thought processes and insecurities. I was taken with the tender rendering of scenes between da Vinci and Lisa as he strives to know this complex, gracious woman grieving the loss of her baby daughter, observing her layered emotions, the wild spirit lurking deep within. “She was not pretty….still there was something about this Lisa Gherardini. Something about the lilt in her chin, the pride in her shoulders. She personified greatness that did not end with the city but began with the earth.” (p199) He hopes to create something to outlast himself; little knowing this enigmatic portrait will be his immortality.
Previously a non-fiction writer of Up North: Where Canada’s Architecture Meets The Land and a Globe and Mail architecture critic and columnist from 2000-2013, Rochon’s leap to historical fiction is a triumph. Meticulously researched, Rochon’s captivating novel is rich in detail; we sense what it is to live in 16thC Florence. This is an engrossing novel for lovers of art, history and all things Renaissance. We feel we know her well-developed characters. She has created a vivid portrait of time and place, revealing a human side to these master artists.

[Audrey S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tuscan Daughter is a Historical Fiction set over the course of five years in early 16th century Florence. When her father is killed and her mother disappears, young Beatrice takes it upon herself to keep selling olive oil in the city in order to continue the hunt for her mother. In the city, Beatrice runs into an aging artist, Leonardo DaVinci, and earns his patronage as a buyer. In making a friendship with Leonardo, Beatrice’s world becomes intertwined with some of the greatest artists of her time.

Tuscan Daughter begins a bit stiffly, but this is smoothed out when other characters are introduced: Agnella, an older, independent woman who takes Beatrice under her wing, and the artists, Leonardo and Michelangelo. Beatrice comes out of her shell and even shows talent at being an artist in her own right, but while Beatrice still remains the main character, the conflicts of the two larger artists also take up large portions of the novel, and all are very entertaining.

The world is richly painted and the story is fast paced; we see the world of renaissance Florence through the eyes of an artist and an architect. I think any lover of Historical Fiction will enjoy this book, though I’m not sure I would recommend it to Queer readers as homophobia and internalized homophobia are fairly prevalent plot points in the novel. Still, this does not mean that allies won’t learn something from the points brought up and I would certainly recommend it to them, especially as discussion points. Since it contains mild spoilers, I will discuss what I mean after the content warnings.

CW: Sexual Assault, Death of a Parent, Addiction, Homophobia, & Internalized Homophobia

**Mild Spoilers**

There is a budding friendship between Michelangelo and Beatrice that feels very natural and well-placed. However, due to social expectations at the time, many people, including Michaelangelo himself, try to force something more from the relationship (time and time again) to squash rumours of Michaelangelo’s homosexuality. I enjoyed this writer’s choice of a conflict, because Michelangelo and Beatrice don’t work as a romantic couple and we can very clearly see the unnatural strain on their relationship when it’s forced in that direction. The author also explores Beatrice’s conflicting feelings, since she does want Michaelangelo, but knows they do not work together. It’s a difficult plot point to balance and there are times when Beatrice comes out looking foolish, ignorant, and flawed, and that’s entirely okay! I feel as though other authors may have paired Michaelangelo and Beatrice together regardless, but I truly respect Rochon’s definitive decision to keep them as friends.

**Mild Spoilers Over**

*Thank you HarperCollins Canada and NetGalley for the ARC*

[Marty T · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a 3 star for story and effort but a two star for enjoyment.

The author wanted to tell a story in renaissance Florence, with a focus on the rivalry between Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo and the preparation of the Mona Lisa. This is achieved through the eyes of the protagonist, young Beatrice.

On paper, Beatrice sounds like a very interesting character: her mother is missing and her occupation is precarious at best. She wants to be an artist herself, she has an hopeless crush on Michelangelo and great respect for Leonardo.

However, most of this book’s potential is squandered by the pacing. The story drags and goes nowhere for several chapters, and sometimes the characters seem to only be there because “hey renaissance Florence, I can’t not mention Machiavelli!”

The characterisation of both Michelangelo and Leonardo is odd. I really appreciated how initially, there seemed to be a contrast between their art and personality: Leonardo is open about his passions and his homosexuality, but his art is usually reserved for noblemen and the clergy, hardly seen by the public; whereas Michelangelo is the opposite: his David is right in the middle of the city, but his personal life is hidden and repressed.

Despite this compelling setup, the book seems to simply go back and forth on how to portray these iconic historical figures, and sometimes they seem to be just there to fawn over Beatrice for no reason.

Poor Beatrice is given little to no real development. The book wants to give a female perspective of the time period, giving a voice several women, real or made up for the story, but it never fully takes a stand. The author’s note at the end mentions how there was meant fo be a parallel with discrimination of women and homosexuality, but no real solidarity is shown.

All in all, the effort can be seen, and the book deserves credit for a compelling premise and also inserting a new protagonist in the already chaotic history of the time, but to me, it failed to deliver on his premise.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

1111

"Florence, 1500—a peasant girl finds herself alone after her father is killed and her mother disappears. Beatrice is given grudging permission to pass through the city gates to sell olive oil to the artists—Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci and Botticelli—who toil to elevate the status of the Florentine Republic. Lonely yet defiant, the peasant girl draws on the stone walls of Florence in secret as a way to express her pain. While desperately searching the city for her mother, Beatrice befriends the upstart Michelangelo as he struggles to sculpt the David. She also comes to know a cloth merchant’s wife who is having her portrait painted by the aging Leonardo da Vinci. ( the Mona Lisa) Bonds deepen even while Michelangelo and Leonardo are pitted against each other. 
Set during five years in the early 1500s when Florence was rebranding itself through its creative geniuses".
TuscanDaughter was an interesting reading because of the artists one is introduced to. The story line is a bit slow and non existent but I really enjoyed learning about the artists, art and architecture of that time in Florence.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a phenomenal book!!! For those prone to reading historical fiction, this is for you. The novel transports you back to the first years of the 1500s. The sights, sounds, smells, and tastes are all richly embroidered into the fascinating plot. The characters are well-researched, and it can't hurt to have Michelangelo, DaVinci, Machiavelli, and Mona Lisa among a menage of Italian Renaissance figures. I might have been giving the novel five stars, but I suddenly realized that the character of Beatrice seemed underutilized. I thought she could have been less helpless and more of a heroine. In addition, I felt like the last 25 pages were less hypnotic, maybe "tacked on" to some extent. It felt like the reconciliation scene closed the book without the character of Beatrice getting the progression she richly deserved, having ignited so much of the earlier plot. This is a book for people of all ages. It would be a great piece to see taught in Toronto schools, so many parallel social concerns. Brava, Ms. Rochon!

[Montanna Wildhack · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author has a point of view. She has something to say about art and about making art. She's used this novel to say it. I did not, in my reading, develop a fondness for the characters. It was well researched - I'm an obsessive fact-checker when I read historical fiction. She did a good job with the facts. I guess I had a hard time buying into the probability of Beatrice's story, given her station in life. I might have believed a young noblewoman could have lived such a life, in 1504, in Florence. I've read a number of historical fictions from this period in Florence and in this one, the ashes of Savonarola are five years old. Yet somehow the Catholic faith, even though the art is obviously obsessed with the iconography, has no discernible place in Beatrice's life. She has patriarchal shame in her life, but there's no priest controlling her. If I had been her editor, I might have suggested she try a sci-fi twist and make Beatrice a time travelling art historian from the 22nd century.

For the New Carlisle Book Club, in March 2022

[Marion Malsbury · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this novel. Historical fiction set in the 1500's and tells the story of an Beatrice, an unfortunate, poor girl living outside the gates of Florence. When tragedy befalls her family, she is left alone and must support herself by selling her olive oil within the gated city.
There she meets both Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, prominent artists of the day. During this period of time, Michelangelo is working on the statue David while Leonardo is painting the Mona Lisa.

This story relates the interesting history and rivalry between the two artists and the relationship each has with the young Beatrice, who longs to be an artist too, a career that was frowned upon for women of the day.

[Joanne Mosquera · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book brought back memories of a trip I took to Florence when I was 16. I saw Michelangelo’s David statue and was completely amazed. The skill and effort involved in creating that piece of art was tremendous and that is a large part of this story. I also saw the Mona Lisa at Le Louvre that same summer so I enjoyed reading about the relationship between Lisa and Da Vinci and the process of completing a portrait that shows emotion, movement, and intention. I also loved that a peasant girl was the connection between all of the artists and characters in this story. It is truly sad that there was a time when women were not allowed to do many things, including produce art, and that men were not free to love other men.

[Lisa Hernqvist · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tuscan Daughter av Lisa Rochon är en väl-researchad historisk roman som utspelar sig i Florens under några år precis i början av 1500-talet. Huvudpersonen, tonåriga Beatrice som bor på en fattig olivgård utanför Florens, är fiktiv. Hon blir föräldralös och söker sig till staden för att försörja sig på att sälja olivolja. I Florens stöter hon på Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Machiavelli med fler historiska personer.

Historien är lite gullig (även om livet för fattigt enkelt folk var hårt) men även onödigt vindlande. Jag håller för tillfället på att lära mig om renässansen med särskilt fokus på renässanskonsten med dess kärna i Florens. Rochons roman har på ett trevligt sätt gett mig välkommet kött på benen om platsen, tiden, konstnärerna och några av tavlorna och skulpturerna.

[Rose Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beatrice, the Tuscan Daughter of the title, is a peasant girl who dreams of being an artist, at a time when only men have that privilege. Left alone and impoverished on her parents’ small olive farm through brutal circumstances, she is forced to become resourceful, daring, and courageous ways she could never have imagined. Why shouldn’t she by chance rub up against the likes of DaVinci, Michelangelo, and Macchiaveli? After all, this is Florence in the first years of the 1500s. Anything is possible.

I’m enthralled by the reimagining of Florence’s great artists, and the descriptions of the city and its culture.

[Laraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. This was an interesting and engaging historical fiction about a young girl's life in Italy in the early 1500's. Beatrice was a beloved daughter, living in a tidy farm outside Florence. Her father was killed, her mother disappeared and Beatrice starts going to Florence to sell olive oil in order to keep from starving. She meets the artists Michaelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci and becomes part of their set, learning to become a better artist herself by watching them. This was a fascinating glimpse at the behind the scenes life of these great artists of their time. I enjoyed this book very much.

[Elaine Cougler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must admit that anything having to do with Tuscany piques my interest and Tuscan Daughter was no exception. This intriguing growing up story marries a young girl who is left totally alone with historic names such as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and even Machiavelli, bringing to the fore life in 1500's Florence. Rochon handles the complexities of several major characters, weaving their stories into that of Beatrice and even the lady who sat for da Vinci's Mona Lisa. The book is a bit of a course in that rich time period and I learned a lot about many things. Most interesting is the character of Beatrice who makes up her mind to be strong and not to be a victim. Well worth reading.

[Vicki (sun.sand.and.books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars
This one was just ok for me.
I loved the setting and the concept of Leonardo Da Vinci and Michaelangelo's rivalry in Florence but Beatrice's story didnt do anything for me I found her character to be annoying. I enjoy reading Michaelangelo's and Leonardo's POVs way more.
I found the overall pacing to be odd and the unexpected POV changes made the story fill so disjointed and a bit all over the place. At some points in the story it was hard to distinguish whose POV it was as they all seemed fairly similar and there wasn't a set flow or order to them.

[Reta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tuscan Daughter by Lisa Rochon

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Avenue/HarperCollins Canada for a digital ARC for my honest review.

It's nice to see what life might have been like during the early 1500s when Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo lived in Florence. I found this historical fiction very intriguing and would recommend it to anyone interested in the people, art and architecture of this time. The author certainly did her research to bring history alive.

#NetGalley #TuscanDaughter