Another Fabulous Art History Thriller by the Bestselling Author of Oil and Marble, Featuring the Master of Renaissance Perfection: Raphael! Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling is one of the most iconic masterpieces of the Renaissance. Here, in Raphael, Painter in Rome, Storey tells of its creation as never before: through the eyes of Michelangelo’s fiercest rival—the young, beautiful, brilliant … rival—the young, beautiful, brilliant painter of perfection, Raphael. Orphaned at age eleven, Raphael is determined to keep the deathbed promise he made to his father: become the greatest artist in history. But to be the best, he must beat the best, the legendary sculptor of the David, Michelangelo Buonarroti. When Pope Julius II calls both artists down to Rome, they are pitted against each other: Michelangelo painting the Sistine Ceiling, while Raphael decorates the pope’s private apartments. As Raphael strives toward perfection in paint, he battles internal demons: his desperate ambition, crippling fear of imperfection, and unshakable loneliness. Along the way, he conspires with cardinals, scrambles through the ruins of ancient Rome, and falls in love with a baker’s-daughter-turned-prostitute who becomes his muse.
With its gorgeous writing, rich settings, endearing characters, and riveting plot, Raphael, Painter in Rome brings to vivid life these two Renaissance masters going head to head in the deadly halls of the Vatican.
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I was approached to read this book for a potential cover quote, and loved it. Stephanie Storey paints a warm, witty, mesmerizing portrait of the Renaissance’s most famous painters: the charming Raphael and the irascible Michelangelo, dueling for the title of greatest artist in Rome. Only one will win the ultimate commission of the Sistine Chapel, and Raphael is determined the ceiling will be his—but at what cost? RAPHAEL: PAINTER IN ROME is a feast for the senses, every brush-stroke a delight.
Stephanie brings the characters and settings to life. When you finish the book you will feel that you have known Raphael.
Where to start? Honestly, this book took a second for me to fall into mostly because I don’t think I’ve ever read a historical fiction novel that was so engaging! It was beyond what I was expecting in the best way! And absolute win of a novel for me! 10/10 stars for sure!
The style maybe wasn’t for me, but the story is fun and engaging. Lovers of art, art history, the Renaissance, and interesting characters should add it to their lists.
Great portrayal of art and politics in the Renaissance.
Entertaining and light, Couldnt stop until I finished reading the entire novel. If you have some great stories like this one, you can publish it on NōvelStar
Another good read. Loved it. Stephanie – Please write a book on Titian. He’s my favorite. Studying his timeline is tremendous. I Often wonder if he wasn’t in the Military for a short time after he studied art as a kid. I believe he painted portraits of Da Vinci and Michelangelo a well. So much there with Titian! Better than Michelangelo and Rafael! The historians were against him and still he shines through! What talent!
A masterpiece.
A sumptuous, dazzling dive into the world of Italian Renaissance art through the eyes of one of its most celebrated artists. Raphael, Painter in Rome unfolds in unforgettable detail, with all the color and richness of the era: popes and princes, courtesans and cardinals, mystery and murder, ardor and art. The world of Raphael is one I wanted to linger in forever.
interesting take
If you appreciate art, you will enjoy reading this book.
It helped add a layer of reality to art history
I liked getting ginside this magnificent painters head. His comments on other famous painters are gems. Who know the Vatican was such a snake pit.
This is one of the best novel’s I’ve read this year (or any year). The topic is the life of Rafael and other Renaissance painters in Florence and Rome. I especially loved the intimacy of the storytelling. Raphael speaks in the first person directly to the reader, adding a new dynamic the storytelling. The cast of characters also includes Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, and others.
The most helpful and unusual aspect of the book is that, as Raphael talks about his individual paintings and frescoes, the name of the work will have live link. It sends the reader to a website displaying in full color the image of that painting or fresco. This adds a new dimension to the reading experience. I’ve never seen that in a novel before.
In Raphael: Painter in Rome, Storey has written a well-researched book that zips along at a satisfying pace. Her details are impeccable, from small ones like chickens wandering through an artist’s studio due to the need for eggs to mix tempera to big ones such as making recorded interactions between two Renaissance giants come to colorful life. Storey’s novel is Raphael coming of age, of learning about himself, of overcoming orphanhood and adversity. He grows, he changes, he evolves to become one of the best in the world. This is a first-rate novel that will interest any aficionados of Raphael, the Renaissance, art history, and Italy, as well as those who prefer to see the world not as it should be but how it was.
For my full review, please go here: https://ginabu.com/2020/06/08/raphael-painter-in-rome/
Raphael Santi of Urbino was one of the premier painters in 16th century Rome, if not the best. He had promised his father, the painter who was also his first teacher, that he would paint the perfect painting to become the greatest painter in the world. Unfortunately, he had to contend with his chief rival from Florence, Michelangelo Buonarroti.
Raphael narrates his story and periodically “breaks fourth wall” to talk to the reader as if he’s carrying on a conversation with a friend. The book serves as a fictional biography, art history, Renaissance history and keeps the reader engaged at all times. The author recommends that the reader have access to the internet to find more information on the artists, art works, and people mentioned in the story. I found her advise enriched my enjoyment of a highly enjoyable the book. You don’t need to be an art expert to find the book absorbing, but I bet you will be more interested in Renaissance art when you’ve finished reading it.
I receive a copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinion is my own.
This novel follows Raphael as he completes with Michelangelo to be the best artist in Rome. The characters are well-drawn and entertaining.
Did not finish.
The competition between Rafael and Michaelngelo was interesting and the corruption of the church hierarchy was foreshadowing of the abuses in modern times. I was not a fan of Rafael’s frequent asides to the reader.