The Woman in the Painting

Kerry Postle

May 2020 · Sold by HarperCollins UK

About this eBook

A celebrated artist. A baker’s daughter. A love that will change everything.

1508. In Rome, artists are feted as gods, and women must know their place.

Margarita may be the modest daughter of a baker, but when she falls in love with painter Raphael she finds herself playing a dangerous game.

For Raphael is wanted for greater things than a humble marriage, and there are those who will do anything to keep him and Margarita apart – no matter the consequences...

Inspired by a heartbreaking true story, this stunning and evocative novel is perfect for fans of The Sapphire Widow, Beneath a Burning Sky and The Emerald Affair.

What readers are saying about The Woman in the Painting:

‘I was thoroughly and completely hooked... I felt myself being transported inside the book to Renaissance Italy... I truly loved it.’ NetGalley reviewer, 4 stars

‘It's hard to describe how much I enjoyed this... Wonderful detail and atmospherics.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars

‘Strong characters... Complex relationships... I absolutely loved this work!’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars

‘I absolutely loved it. It drew me in and I didn't want to take a break.’ NetGalley reviewer, 4 stars

‘Compelling... Impeccably researched, the writer drew me into sixteenth-century Italy from the beginning. The writing style is delicious, a joy to read.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars

‘Beautifully written, it helps reveal the magic and wonder of the period.’ NetGalley reviewer, 4 stars

Ratings and reviews

4.5/5★ In the historic and prominent trinity formed during the High Renaissance by Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, I think that Raphael is the least well known out of the three great masters with most people. This is why I'm so happy that he was featured in The Woman in the Painting. Not only do I love reading about famous painters from the past but I also have a big weakness from reading books that are set during the Renaissance. The story and characters were fictionalized for this novel but it is inspired by a true story. And Kerry Postle wrote this all so beautifully. I've already mentioned that this book features the artist Raphael but the story is told through the eyes of one of his apprentices named Pietro (although the story starts before he is actually an apprentice in Raphael's workshop). This is something I enjoyed very much because it gives a different perspective than you'd normally get. It also isn't just a book about Raphael's life or his art seen through the eyes of someone working with him. It's also very much a love story, albeit a tragic one. I know not a lot of readers will actually like Pietro. Maybe at the start they will but as the story goes on he does a lot of things that are for his own gain because of his feelings for Raphael and the jealousy he feels when the maestro he admires so much meets the love of his life, Margarita Luti, who turns out to be "just" a baker's daughter. I don't want to give too much away, at least not any more than I already did, about Pietro and everything happening in the story so it's pretty hard to describe him as a character but likeable he definitely wasn't. But there were times where I did feel a certain sympathy for him. I actually didn't mind his rather objectionable character that much because I thought it made things all the more interesting, if that makes even sense. And I do like reading about characters that are flawed like that. In the end, though, he does do the right thing which made me glad for sure. The start of the book may have been a bit slow for me. It took me a few chapters to really get into the whole vibe of the story and characters but once I did I was thoroughly and completely hooked. I've read two books by this author before and Kerry Postle has this way of writing that's unique to any other auhor I've read before. It makes me feel as if I'm inside the story experiencing everything and it was definitely no different with The Woman in the Painting. I felt myself being transported inside the book to Renaissance Italy, I loved that. And also, this is now my favorite book of hers. I think it's already obvious that I highly enjoyed this story but I also really want to say that I truly loved it.