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I, Juan de Pareja

Elizabeth Borton de Treviño

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Nov 05, 2018 Jean-Marie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: art, 1600s, biography, historical-fiction

This is a fictionalize story of Juan de Pareja, the slave assistant to the Spanish painter Diego Velazquez. The 11-year-old and I read this to complement our Age of Enlightenment history lesson. It was a very good read. I wonder, though, how much of it is true and am concerned it is a romantized version of a slave-master narrative. Velazquez's portrait of de Pareja is stunning, and I'd like to believe they had a very kind and loving companionship. ...more

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Jul 24, 2009 Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance rated it liked it

Shelves: children-s-books, newbery

Juan de Pareja was a real-life slave of Diego Velazquez, the famous Spanish painter of the 17th century. At that time, it was illegal for slaves to paint. Secretly, however, Juan watches Velazquez and experiments with his techniques, painting. Juan is able, in time, to become free and to marry and to set his wife free as well.

Slavery, freedom, truth in art---these are the great themes of this book.

“I thought Art should be Beauty,” he (an apprentice to Velazquez) muttered.

“No, Cristobal,” (replie ...more

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Oct 02, 2008 Katie rated it it was ok

Shelves: young-adult, female-author, newbery

i think i would have liked this book a lot more if i'd read it as a historical fiction novel, but i didn't realize a lot of it was based on factual events until i finished the book.

mostly i was just bored as i read it, i'm not sure why.

...more

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