Well researched historical novel that is set in early 16th century Venice during an outbreak of the plague. The main character, Maria, learns her father’s trade as a master gilder. It should not be surprising that the fact that she is a woman creates many obstacles for her as the story unfolds. An entertaining read that I was fortunate enough to have won in in a Goodreads giveaway. ( )

I really enjoyed The Gondola Maker, and Bridge of Sighs, and was really looking forward to reading this.   Sadly i just didn't get the same vibe from it.  It was really quite depressing, and certainly not a book to read in winter when the weather's cold.

Can't win them all. ( )

#GoodreadsGiveaway ( )

This is the first book by Laura Morelli that I have read and I was quite impressed. The story was rich in the arts and forbidden love in 1510 Venice when it was fighting a big battle with the bubonic plague. This is the author's second novel in her Venetian Artisans series.

19 year old Maria Bartolini has been sent away from her father's gilding workshop to work as an apprentice under famous painter Master Trevisan for 18 months in exchange for learning how to use pigments. She prefers to work with gold leaves but works hard to learn how to use to paint with pigment all while pining for home, her family and her lover, a Saracen working in her father's shop as a gold beater. When she discovers that she is pregnant Maria tries to get in touch with her family but is blocked by a barricade installed to stop the spread of the pestilence, the bubonic plague. The Trevisan family maid figures out that Maria is pregnant and together with the family's boatman extorts money from her to keep the secret from Master Trevisan. Other artisans have been jailed and then exiled for similar offenses so Maria pays them until she can figure out how to handle her situation.

I love art, using gold leaves too, so the artistic backstory was fascinating for me. I also love the Renaissance period. The pairing of these two made for a great story. Add in a forbidden love story between an interracial couple and a plague and you have a plot that is hard to beat.

As an artist I loved reading all of the details about the gilding process. I was amused when artists from other areas of Europe were brought in to the story who talked about using a new background for their art - canvas. It was deemed revolutionary at the time to those who were using the traditional wooden background. The use of oil paints as a new medium was also discussed but the Venetian guild still mixed pigment from natural resources. I thought this was hilarious but truth be told it was during this era that the art world began to change.

Another major part of the story was the bubonic plague. If affected commerce, how the artisans were able to obtain supplies and maintain customers as the city fell victim to the plague block by block. Neighborhoods were boarded up so that no one could enter or exit in an effort to contain the pestilence but that meant that food could not be delivered to people residing in these neighborhoods. When someone got sick they were forced by the police to sail to a nearby island where most of them died and were buried without notice to their families.

The characters were awesome. All of them. From Maria to her father, aunt, cousin, lover, boss, the maid, the boatman and the boss's wife, they all played their parts well. The maid and boatman provided the story with the evil characters while Master Trevisan's wife was the stereotypical rich, gossipy wife. Maria had an aunt who was a nun who did her best to get her to enter the convent.

The author used contemporary English with the exception of the character and place names which helped to make the book a quick read. I enjoyed the Painter's Apprentice immensely and rate it 5 out of 5 stars. ( )

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 strikes yet again. However, this time it's her old neighborhood and she can no longer communicate with her family or friends of the guild as the neighborhood has been barricaded and is heavily guarded. Worry and fear for her loved ones fill her quiet moments and distract her. That and the secret she bears consume her thoughts and provide such tension in the story. What is a young woman to do?

Author Laura Morelli writes with such exquisite form and language. Her extensive knowledge of Renaissance Italy and especially its art history is apparent and richly shared through the story's characters. The settings are stunning, painterly, and sometimes stark. It transports the reader to a far off place and time. The story was charming and features a woman of strong character who knows her own mind and loves with a heart of gold. ( )