I love reading these types of books, where I feel like I am living during the time period. I love the renaissance period and this story definitely puts you deep in the life of people who lived during the plague. The history of how artists work was very detailed and looked like it was greatly researched. Also, the detail about the plague was also very interesting. Unfortunately, I just didn't love the characters. I couldn't 'care' about them and wasn't drawn in at any time, with any character. I ...

I truly enjoyed the first novel by this author, The Gondola Maker. But I absolutely could not get into this story, which is missing heart and soul. The author is an art historian and she tried to create story rich in details of art history, but she forgot about very important aspect, to put life into the story.

I love stories that take place in this time period. Adding to the draw for me is the fact that this novel takes place in the land of my maternal ancestors, the beautiful Italy.In 1510, Maria Bartolini dreams of carrying on her father's vocation and become a master gilder. While she would prefer to learn under his tutelage, her father sends her away from the only home she's ever known, in order for her to learn the art. Maria is to be an apprentice under Master Trevisan, who is quite well know an...

I won The Painter's Apprentice by Laura Morelli on Goodreads as a result of an error. The publisher accidentally offered too many copies for their print giveaway. So the author generously agreed to give away free digital copies via Book Funnel. That's the format in which I acquired my review copy, and this is my honest review. I primarily wanted to read this book because I have a special interest in woman protagonists who are artists. Since Laura Morelli is an art historian, I thought she would ...

Venice, 1510-a well respected gilder swiftly arranges for his gifted daughter to apprentice with a well know painter of the city. Publicly he states that he wants to provide her with every opportunity to continue on the family artisan legacy. When in actuality, he fears her growing attachment to his gold leaf maker who is just not who he had in mind for his daughter's hand. Off she goes and much she learns but her heart remains back at her father's home and workshop. And then the bubonic plague ...

Having already read and enjoyed Ms. Morelli’s The Gondola Maker, I was eager to read The Painter’s Apprentice. I was not disappointed. Once again, Ms. Morelli crafted her prose with profound artistry; and I was transported back to Renaissance Venice, with all its majesty, pageantry, and oh yes, the Plague. As an artist, I particularly enjoyed the fascinating, detailed portrayal of the gilding technique, the pigment mixing mediums, and the wood panel preparations. Clearly, Ms. Morelli did her hom...

Venice has always held a special allure for me with its alleyways, canals, islands, gondolas. They all beckoned me to explore further. So a new book by Laura Morelli, set in Venice, promises an escape to this historic land.Set in 1510 we are taken into the world of artists and the “gilders’ guild”. The gilders’ guild is a society dedicated to the practice and preservation of the art of using gold and metal leaf. I had no idea this technique was such a specialty. But darkness – in the form of the...

This is one of those wonderful, richly detailed and historically accurate novels that you can sink into and get lost in for days. Like the historical novels of Ken Follett that I love so much, "The Painter's Apprentice" is compulsively readable and peopled with characters you are immediately drawn to. If you love lush, dramatic human stories, mixed with history and the beautifully exotic setting of Venice, you won't want to miss this outstanding novel by such a superb and talented author.**This ...

This author knows about what she speaks. She holds a Ph.D. in Art History from Yale University. The evidence is great for the impeccability of her research for The Painter's Apprentice.I love to read books which take me on an adventure to a new geography. And period pieces are among my favorites. The pages of this book will have you on a bit of time travel to Venice in the early 1500s. The characters are richly developed; you will cheer for some and abhor others (well, one certain other), and ea...

My Review of “THE PAINTER’S APPRENTICE” BY LAURA MORELLII appreciate the way Laura Morelli, author of “The Painter’s Apprentice” creatively describes the beautiful scenery of Venice with glorious details. The time line of the story is around 1510. The Genres of this story are Historical Fiction, Fiction, and a dash of romance. During this time, there is a darkness as the plague takes offer many parts of the city, causing death and destruction. The author presents the characters with a “real” fee...