Mystery of the Mona Lisa

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Summary: There should be a sequel.
Review: "Mystery of the Mona Lisa" is absolutely marvelous! I kept delaying reading it because I truly did not want it to end. There should be a sequel. Prof. Carmela Di Meo, N.J

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Summary: A charming recreation of the period.
Review: I found it to be engrossing and read through it quite quickly. The book is a charming recreation of the period and the life of Mona Lisa...Richard Fabricant/attorney

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Summary: Is it a duchess, a merchant's wife or his mother?
Review: In her intriguing historical novel, Rina de' Firenze claims that the source of inspiration of one of the most famous paintings in the world, is none other than Caterina, the mother of Leonardo da Vinci.A great deal of mystery shrouds the origin of Leonardo's mother, but it is believed that she was a girl of noble blood, whose original name was "Lisa". She had an illegitimate child in 1452 by a well-to-do notary, Piero da Vinci, a child that became the greatest artist, sculptor, architect and engineer of the Renaissance. This romantic biography tells of his early passion for drawing the world around him in the Tuscan hills, his love of nature, flowers, birds and his unsatiable curiosity about mechanical objects and how they work. This unique story came as a premonition to the author, Rina de' Firenze, followed by repeated visions of Leonardo and his mother urging her to tell this story that was unknown to this world.In her own voice, Caterina speaks of the struggle to provide a warm, nuturing environment for her gifted son. She tells of the time when young Leonardo entered Verrocchio's studio in Florence, and of his secret visits to her simple abode. There, where he started drawing her face time and time again, promising her of turning it into the most famous, mysterious painting in the world. Leonardo kept the "Mona Lisa" by his side for the rest of his life. Yet, the sitter remains a mystery to this day-- an enigma. Is it a duchess, a merchant's wife or as some contend, his mother, because her mysterious smile has such a warm, maternal tenderness about it. Nancy Di Benedetto, art historian from Yale and Hunter, currently teaching at Marymount College, NYC