"I could not stop reading this incredible true story." Reese . James Corwin SPOILER: Wow.I didn't think there was anything subtle about this ending, it was a huge surprise after we're told on pg 1 that a year after her marriage, Lucrezia would be dead! Art and artifice are intrinsic to it. But when her older sister dies on the eve of her wedding to the ruler of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio, Lucrezia . The Marriage Portrait Her relationship with Cosimo, Lucrezia's father, is a. Having barely left girlhood behind, Lucrezia must now enter an unfamiliar court whose customs are opaque and where her arrival is not universally welcomed. Thrilled to hear that xx, Your email address will not be published. O'Farrell has been widely praised for crafting poignant, perceptive depictions of life's unexpected turns. This is the reason for their sudden journey to such a wild and lonely place. Had the world been operating normally, I would have gone fairly quickly to Italy to research the various locations and to gaze upon the portraits of Lucrezia and her family. 35 likes, 8 comments - bookstagram | Abigail and Torie Burns (@ataleoftwolitties) on Instagram: "TORIE | 4 Stars I loved Hamnet. Filled with gorgeous luxury and brutal political intrigue, The Marriage Portrait is a book you'll get lost in. As Lucrezia sits for a painting to preserve her image, it becomes clear to her that her survival is dependent on her provision of an heir, and readers will be enthralled by the alliances formed by marriage, her discovery of the man who was supposed to marry her sister, and a court who isnt thrilled by her presence. 1 bestsellers. But when her older sister dies on the eve of her wedding to the ruler of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio, Lucrezia is thrust into the limelight: the duke is quick to request her hand in marriage and her father just as quick to accept on her behalf. The Marriage Portrait. Any changes made can be done at any time and will become effective at the end of the trial period, allowing you to retain full access for 4 weeks, even if you downgrade or cancel. The writing of this novel was entirely bookended by the pandemic and all its various lockdowns and lockins, anxieties and strangeness, homeschooling and circuitous walks around the local streets. Stay on top of new releases: Sign up for our newsletter to receive reading recommendations in your favorite genres every Tuesday. She has seen Alfonso only once, knows him not at all. 19962022 BookPage and ProMotion, inc. | 2143 Belcourt Avenue, Nashville, TN 37212. To Alfonso, and to her family, she is valuable only as a vessel for bearing children. As she sits for a formal marriage portrait and cautiously makes a connection with the artists apprentice, she remains not only on the periphery of the court but also fearful for her life. She also recounts the history of Lucrezias betrothal at a young age to Alfonso; he previously had been betrothed to her older sister, who died before they could wed. She illustrates the close and loving relationship of Lucrezia to her nursemaid, who ingeniously protected her from marriage for as long as she could. Once married, she is out of her league in the tense, gossipy Ferrara household, where she is frightened by her husbands mercurial moods and his sisters cagey secrets. Just before lockdown began in the spring of 2020, I came across a small oil painting of Lucrezia de Medici, attributed to the studio of Renaissance artist Agnolo Bronzino. . Lucrezia, third daughter of the grand duke, is comfortable with her obscure place in the palazzo: free to devote herself to her own artistic pursuits. As soon as travel restrictions were lifted, I got myself on a flight to Tuscany (an act which, at the time, involved more paperwork than when I bought my house). The Washington PostFlorence, the 1550s. Lucrezia, third daughter of the grand duke, is comfortable with her obscure place in the palazzo: free to wonder at its treasures, observe its clandestine workings, and devote herself to her own artistic pursuits. Portrait of a Woman Inspired by Lucretia is an oil-on-canvas portrait by the Italian Renaissance artist Lorenzo Lotto, created c. 1533. Trademark, Do In a . Bronzinos Lucrezia is about the size of a hardback book, hung low down on a crowded wall, next to a fire extinguisher. History tells us she married Alfonso in 1558 and, less than a year after moving into his household, was dead at the age of 16. Perhaps most mystifying of all is her new husband himself, Alfonso. Lucrezia, third daughter of the grand duke, is comfortable with her obscure place in the palazzo: free to wonder at its treasures, observe its clandestine workings, and devote herself to her own artistic pursuits. A Duchess Fights to Survive in Maggie O'Farrell's "The Marriage Portrait" The Marriage Portrait is based on the life of Lucrezia de'Medici, born into one of Italy's most illustrious families. bookstagram | Abigail and Torie Burns on Instagram: "TORIE | 4 Stars I With parents eager to strengthen ties to other noble Italian houses, Lucrezia's older sister Maria is betrothed to Alfonso, Duke of Ferrara. "The Marriage Portrait" is the fictionalized story of the 16th-century Italian noblewoman Lucrezia di Cosimo de'Medici. Want to know what people are actually reading right now? It seemed emblematic of the way I felt she has been treated withing her own family and her husband and by history: overlooked and underloved. She loved losing herself in her artwork and never looked beyond the present moment, until the day her older sister, Maria, died. Only a year or so later, she would be dead, at the age of sixteen. Described as a luminous portrait of a marriage, at its heart the loss of a beloved child, Hamnet was lush, exquisite and a remarkable piece of literary fiction, so my expectations were set very high for this one.Set in the mid 1500s, The Marriage Portrait is the reimagining of the short life and times of Lucrezia, the third daughter of Cosimo de Medici and his Spanish wife Eleonora. I thought I had made myself clear. Almost nothing is known about her historically, but OFarrell brought her to vibrant life. We are experiencing technical difficulties. The author proves equally skilled at evoking suspense. Booklist [starred review]A vivid depiction of the harsh manners and rigid expectations for women within ducal courts in 16th-century Italy . Here, however, OFarrell flips the script and tells the story of Alfonsos bride, the one who was portrayed in the portrait at the center of the poem. The tension in the plot builds slowly at first, but soon The Marriage Portrait becomes impossible to put down . She was Lucrezia, part of the eminent Medici family of Florence, who died at age 16, only a year after marrying the duke. Filled with gorgeous luxury and brutal political intrigue, The Marriage Portrait is a book youll get lost in. The marriage is delayed somewhat by wars, affairs of state and Sofias machinations, but by the time shes 15 Lucrezia is facing her wedding day. Subscribe to our free Top 5 things to do newsletter. Now, the duke grows increasingly impatient with her as she fails to produce the heir he needs to secure his position. Treat her thus.. and other data for a number of reasons, such as keeping FT Sites reliable and secure, Winter, 1561. The narrative moves back and forth from the nearly deserted fortress where Lucrezia plays a game of cat and mouse with the duke of Ferrara, the husband who might be attempting to kill her, and the events that have brought her here. WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION FINALIST REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER The author of award-winning Hamnet brings the world of Renaissance Italy to jewel-bright life in this unforgettable fictional portrait of the captivating young duchess Lucrezia de' Medici as she makes her way in a troubled court."I could not stop reading this incredible true story." Reese . . As the city had given way to countryside, Lucrezia had wanted to spur her horse, to press her heels into its flank and feel its hoofs fly over the stones and soil, to move through the flat landscape of the valley at speed, but she knew she must not, that her place was behind or next to him, if invited, never in front, so on and on they trotted. Her sister was betrothed to Alfonso, who would . Her husband is sitting down, not in his customary place at the opposite end but next to her, close enough that she could rest her head on his shoulder, should she wish; he is unfolding his napkin and straightening a knife and moving the candle towards them both when it comes to her with a peculiar clarity, as if some coloured glass has been put in front of her eyes, or perhaps removed from them, that he intends to kill her. . The story of the young dutchess Lucrezia de Medici, I listened while walking the dogs, making dinner, and driving to work. Maggie O'Farrell's new novel is "The Marriage Portrait." [ MURDO MACLEOD | Murdo MacLeod ] By . This beguiling tale of power, politics and one womans fight for agency is yet another masterpiece by the author of Hamnet. The Globe and MailLush, provocative . . Fans of the accomplished Hamnet wont be disappointed by this formidable outing. Publishers Weekly [starred review] A compelling portrait of a young woman out of step with her times . The Marriage Portrait, like O'Farrell's 2020 runaway bestseller, Hamnet, is written in a lavish if rather solemn present tense that tries to bring the past to life: "The two girls grip each. Having barely left girlhood behind, Lucrezia must now enter an unfamiliar court where her arrival is not universally welcomed. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. This long-lasting rumor became the basis of Robert Brownings dramatic 1842 poem My Last Duchess, which begins, Thats my last Duchess painted on the wall, / Looking as if she were alive.. . Brownings Alfonso might have closed a curtain over the portrait of his duchess to declare her his possession, but OFarrell rips that curtain away and gives her a life. Tampa Bay TimesI loved The Marriage Portrait so much that I did not want to finish it. Flavian and Onuphrius, Madonna and Child with Saint Roch and Saint Sebastian, Mystical Marriage of St Catherine of Alexandria with Niccol Bonghi, Madonna and Child with Saint Jerome and Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, Mystical Marriage of St Catherine and Saints, Madonna and Child with Saint Catherine and Saint James, Holy Family with Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Holy Family with the Family of St John the Baptist, Portrait of Giovanni Agostino della Torre and his son Niccol, Portrait of Giovanni della Volta with his Wife and Children, Portrait of Marsilio Cassotti and His Bride Faustina, Portrait of a Thirty-Seven-Year-Old Gentleman, Portrait of Brother Gregorio Belo of Vicenza, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Portrait_of_a_Woman_Inspired_by_Lucretia&oldid=1123859255, Collections of the National Gallery, London, Articles with Italian-language sources (it), Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, This page was last edited on 26 November 2022, at 02:31. I was, essentially, armchair travelling and it was a blissful balm during that time of restriction and sameness. You may change or cancel your subscription or trial at any time online. Maria is hardly cold in her coffin when Alfonsos emissaries propose that Lucrezia would be an acceptable substitute. She is also the author of two books for children, WHERE SNOW ANGELS GO and THE BOY WHO LOST HIS SPARK. B&N Members Earn Double or Triple Stamps! It eventually took the assistance of three art historians in Florence to track her down, to a small and distant room of the Palatine Galley, over the river Arno. . Lucrezia, third daughter of the grand duke, is . . Eleanora is so famed for her fertility that her nickname is La Fecundissima shell bear 11 children in all but shes also made herself essential to the business of running her husbands dukedom. In THE MARRIAGE PORTRAIT, OFarrell imagines Lucrezias childhood in the Florentine court, her love of animals and learning, along with her free spirit. With it, OFarrell demonstrates fictions ability to offer counter narratives to those of received history, to open before us imaginative abundance and a tremulous sense of possibility. The Boston GlobeOFarrell pulls out little threads of historical detail to weave this story of a precocious girl sensitive to the contradictions of her station . Well deliver ideas every Thursday for going out, staying home or spending time outdoors. She is no ordinary mortal. Maggie O'Farrell on 'The Marriage Portrait': A look at scandal, history OFarrells latest masterpiece presents a sumptuous portrait of a womans purposeful determination to break the bars of her gilded cage. Christian Science MonitorThrilling . "Brilliantly read by Genevieve Gaunt, I could not pause The Marriage Portrait. Please enable javascript to add items to the cart. . She also recounts the history of Lucrezia's betrothal at a young age to Alfonso; he previously had been betrothed to her older sister, who died before they could wed. Lucrezia sneaks away to visit the tiger alone, daringly reaching between the bars to touch its fur. By Hamilton Cain Published: Sep 7, 2022 Save Article Author photo: Murdo Macleod She is listening to a story about how he was made to release arrow after arrow towards a target on a tree until his fingers bled. As Lucrezia sits in constricting finery for a painting intended to preserve her image for centuries to come, one thing becomes worryingly clear. She said nothing, however, allowing her mare to follow him along the path, through dripping trees, over the arch-backed bridge and into the courtyard of the strange, fortified, star-shaped building, which seemed, even then, to strike her as peculiarly empty of people. If she doesnt, her life is expendable. Alfonso orders a portrait to be made of her, one that will be like no other, where her beauty will transcend and where folk will be astounded by her regal and ethereal beauty. T he Marriage Portrait is a 2022 historical novel by Maggie O'Farrell about Lucrezia, a young woman of the powerful Medici family in Renaissance Italy, and her marriage to Alfonso II, duke. Either way, I knew as soon as I saw her that I had my next novel, that I wanted to imagine the story she might have wanted to tell. Her novels includeHamnet (winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award),After Youd Gone,The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox,The Hand That First Held Mine(winner of the Costa Novel Award), andInstructions for a More about Maggie OFarrell, A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: TIME, THE WASHINGTON POST, GOODREADS REESES BOOK CLUB PICK CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE NOMINEEI could not stop reading this incredible true story.Reese Witherspoon (Reeses Book Club December 22 Pick)[A] glittering, propulsive new novel . Her father, Cosimo, is there, adorned in spiked armour, despite the fact that he never in his life ever fought in a battle. Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Vintage. Try full digital access and see why over 1 million readers subscribe to the FT, Purchase a Trial subscription for 100 for 4 weeks, You will be billed 4,190 per month after the trial ends. | ISBN 9780593320624 . You can opt-out of the sale or sharing of personal information anytime. (Courtesy of Hachette UK). Florence, the 1550s. Whether youre the kind of person who frequently enjoys time-traveling through fiction, or youve been holding out for a second trip back in time with OFarrell, youre in luck: THE MARRIAGE PORTRAIT is another richly imagined, suspenseful, feminist historical novel. There are rivals for his position, and his gallantry is erased by his eagerness for an heir. Keep reading to find out what inspired Maggie OFarrell to write The Marriage Portrait. OFarrell creates another mesmerizing portrait of a Renaissance-era woman whose life is shrouded in mystery . Starred () titles indicate a book that is exceptional in its genre or category. Many of us have some connection with Shakespeare, through our education or from general interest, but how many of us are as familiar with this period of Renaissance Italy? Her lush copper-colored hair, which has never been cut and, unbound, reaches her ankles, is elaborately arranged by a crew of maids. One theory holds that its subject was Lucrezi Valier, who married into the Pesaro family in 1533. WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION FINALIST REESES BOOK CLUB PICK NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER The author of award-winning Hamnet brings the world of Renaissance Italy to jewel-bright life in this unforgettable fictional portrait of the captivating young duchess Lucrezia de' Medici as she makes her way in a troubled court.I could not stop reading this incredible true story. Reese Witherspoon (Reeses Book Club Pick)"OFarrell pulls out little threads of historical detail to weave this story of a precocious girl sensitive to the contradictions of her stationYou may know the history, and you may think you know whats coming, but dont be so sure." The Marriage Portrait: A novel Kindle Edition - amazon.com The Marriage Portrait is Maggie O' Farrell's fictional interpretation of Lucrezia de Cosimo de Medici, who fights to survive her forced marriage with her abhorrent husband, Duke Alfonso II.. Maggie O'Farrell's 'The Marriage Portrait' dazzles OFarrell is a marvelous stylist, and The Marriage Portrait is full of the same kinds of intense details that made Hamnet come alive. As always, her prose is beautiful, her characters finely drawn, her story wonderfully surprising. The Marriage Portrait shares a keynote poem (Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess") with After You'd Gone, and an iconic 16th-century backdrop with Hamnet. Is he the playful sophisticate he appeared to be before their wedding, the aesthete happiest in the company of artists and musicians, or the ruthless politician before whom even his formidable sisters seem to tremble? Sadly, this book is very slow-moving, with a lot of unnecessary details that dont add to the story, but only serve to make the book longer. Loved the descriptiveness of the characters, art, motives. The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell review - The Guardian The Marriage Portrait a book by Maggie O'Farrell - Bookshop The Marriage Portrait is an emotionally intense read, lushly draped in atmospheric details . or Portrait of a Woman Inspired by Lucretia is an oil-on-canvas portrait by the Italian Renaissance artist Lorenzo Lotto, created c. 1533. The bodice and sleeves are separate entities, draped over the credenza and the table. I want something that conveys her majesty, her bloodline. Great review Mairead. . OFarrell and Lucrezia, with her crystalline, righteous anger, will always be one step ahead of you.. . Lucrezia is taking her seat at the long dining table, which is polished to a watery gleam and spread with dishes, inverted cups, a woven circlet of fir. by Maggie O'Farrell, View all |By Author |By Genre |By Date . She looked, to me, very much like someone who had something she wanted to say. Hope you enjoy. MAGGIE OFARRELL was born in Northern Ireland in 1972. . Lucrezia and the tigress regarded each other, for a stretched moment, the childs hand on the beasts back, and time stopped for Lucrezia, the turning world stilled.. . At the time there was a menagerie in the de Medici Palazzo and Maggie O Farrell creates a fantastical scene when Cosimo de Medici requests for a tiger to be added to his collection. What chance does she have against Alfonso, ruler of a province, and a trained soldier? A fascinating talk I would think Joanne. Sometimes it felt to her like the safest place in the world, a stone keep with a high garrison perimeter to . Lucrezia makes an appearance unnamed and of course entirely wordless in Robert Brownings poem, My Last Duchess. In it, she is already dead, and Brownings Duke keeps her portrait hidden behind a curtain, which is only drawn back by his hand.