Grey, Christopher. Leonardo's shadow: or, my astonishing life as Leonardo da Vinci's servant.GREY, Christopher. Leonardo's shadow: or, my astonishing a·ston·ish tr.v. as·ton·ished, as·ton·ish·ing, as·ton·ish·es To fill with sudden wonder or amazement. See Synonyms at surprise. life as Leonardo da Vinci's servant. Simon & Schuster Simon & Schuster U.S. publishing company. It was founded in 1924 by Richard L. Simon (1899–1960) and M. Lincoln Schuster (1897–1970), whose initial project, the original crossword-puzzle book, was a best-seller. , Atheneum ath·e·nae·um also ath·e·ne·um n. 1. An institution, such as a literary club or scientific academy, for the promotion of learning. 2. A place, such as a library, where printed materials are available for reading. . 400p. c2006. 1-4169-0543-X. $16.95. JS Although Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo da Vinci (də vĭn`chē, Ital. lāōnär`dō dä vēn`chē), 1452–1519, Italian painter, sculptor, architect, musician, engineer, and scientist, b. near Vinci, a hill village in Tuscany. and the Duke of Milan figure prominently in this novel, this is a creative rendering of the life of Giacomo, da Vinci's servant/apprentice. Beginning with the historical fact that da Vinci took in a young boy accused of thievery Thievery See also Gangsterism, Highwaymen, Outlawry. Alfarache, Guzmán de picaresque, peripatetic thief; lived by unscrupulous wits. [Span. Lit. and provided for him throughout his life (as mentioned in legal papers, journals and letters), this novel provides a back story and a prominent role for Giacomo in da Vinci's painting of the Last Supper. Readers will be quickly drawn into the world of art patronage in the Renaissance, as well as into the clash between peasants and aristocracy. Artists were themselves caught between two worlds and da Vinci is portrayed as having both a creative mind and a shrewd sense of survival. Giacomo himself is interested in the art and caught in the intrigue of Milan in the 15th century. Da Vinci has had a falling out with the Duke; the painting of the Last Supper has been endlessly delayed and now with France threatening war, the Duke wants the painting in the refectory to serve as a peace offering to the Pope, uniting the Pope's army with Milan's. There are spies for the French, spies for the Duke and spies for the Brotherhood of Alchemists An alchemist was a person versed in the art of alchemy, an ancient branch of natural philosophy that eventually evolved into chemistry and pharmacology. Alchemy flourished in the Islamic world during the Middle Ages, and then in Europe from the 13th to the 18th centuries. . There is also a need for food when the merchants finally refuse to allow da Vinci any more credit. Male readers will be drawn into the adventures of the young servant; there is plenty of drinking and carousing ca·rouse intr.v. ca·roused, ca·rous·ing, ca·rous·es 1. To engage in boisterous, drunken merrymaking. 2. To drink excessively. n. Carousal. and gang-type fighting. But readers will also find themselves wanting to know more about the young thief who worked so closely with the art master. Janis Flint-Ferguson, Assoc. Prof., English, Gordon College, Wenham, MA J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers. S--Recommended for senior high school students. |
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