In her brilliant debut, Storey brings early 16th-century Florence alive, entering with extraordinary empathy into the minds and souls of two Renaissance masters, creating a stunning art history thriller. From 1501 to 1505, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo Buonarroti both lived and worked in Florence. Leonardo was a charming, handsome fifty year-old at the peak of his career. Michelangelo was a … a temperamental sculptor in his mid-twenties, desperate to make a name for himself.
Michelangelo is a virtual unknown when he returns to Florence and wins the commission to carve what will become one of the most famous sculptures of all time: David. Even though his impoverished family shuns him for being an artist, he is desperate to support them. Living at the foot of his misshapen block of marble, Michelangelo struggles until the stone finally begins to speak. Working against an impossible deadline, he begins his feverish carving.
Meanwhile, Leonardo’s life is falling apart: he loses the hoped-for David commission; he can’t seem to finish any project; he is obsessed with his ungainly flying machine; he almost dies in war; his engineering designs disastrously fail; and he is haunted by a woman he has seen in the market–a merchant’s wife, whom he is finally commissioned to paint. Her name is Lisa, and she becomes his muse.
Leonardo despises Michelangelo for his youth and lack of sophistication. Michelangelo both loathes and worships Leonardo’s genius.
Oil and Marble is the story of their nearly forgotten rivalry.
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Well written, enjoyable read. Great premise and certainly plausible given the timelines.
I loved reading about these men. I never knew they were such competitors.
This is an interesting book. The story caused me to look at Michaelangelo’s David many times and the other artists’ renditions of David. I was also reminded that being an artist was very difficult for so many in the past.
For me to fall in love with a story, I have to connect with the main character(s) whether that be through wanting to be them, empathize/sympathize with them, fall in love with them and/or care for them. Da Vinci and Michelangelo are NOT lovable characters therefore I had a difficult start with this book, but the author wove their stories with such intrigue and intricacy, that I fell in love with the book despite its fallible characters! If you like historical fiction and/or art, it’s a must read!
Wonderfully written. I can’t wait to return to Italy with a new appreciation of things I’ve seen before. I have purchased a copy as a gift for my friend who traveled with me to Florence.
One of my VERY favorite books. I have recommended it to many people. The “competition” between DaVinci and Michaelango to earn the privilege of sculpting David was both interesting and educational.
A wonderful story of Michaelangelo competing with da Vinci for the stone used to carve the Statue of David. I enjoyed every minute of it & learned a lot about both of them
Filled in nicely historical gaps
Interesting book. Enjoyable.
Historical believable accounting of the overlapping lives of Michelangelo and Leonardo in Florence.
This book was fascinating. to learn about two great masters, their thought processes, inspirations and passions!
very interesting concept…having studied both characters in depth historically, this makes for unique possibility