THE GREATEST ARTIST OF HIS TIME

AN APPRENTICE WITH A LARCENOUS HEART AND AN AVERSION TO THE TRUTH

A YOUNG DUTCHESS WHOSE PLAIN FACE BELIES HER BEAUTIFUL SOUL

Could the complex ways these three lives intertwine hold the key to a historical riddle as enigmatic as the Mona Lisa's smile — why Leonardo da Vinci devoted three years to a painting of the second wife of an unimportant merchant when all the nobles of Europe were begging for a portrait by his hand?

Only a master storyteller like two-time Newberry Medal-winner E.L. Konigsburg could create such an intriguing answer to the puzzle behind the most famous painting of all time.

Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa has always been surrounded by mystery, from her enigmatic smile to her identity. Art historians have now determined that she was the second wife of a merchant named Giaconda. Konigsburg's historical fiction presents a thought-provoking premise of why da Vinci chose to paint her portrait when he was in such demand by the nobility. It appears that da Vinci's servant, Salai, had a great deal of influence over his master. The young, fun loving, plain-faced Duchess Beatrice entranced Salai. He told her, You ought to let Leonardo paint you. He is the guy who believes that you paint a face to show what is inside the head. However, it is not her face, but rather that of an unknown, that becomes the masterpiece. Konigsburg provides lively dialogue and vivid descriptions of the people and settings of the Italian Renaissance as her tale of Beatrice, Salai and da Vinci unfolds. Readers will gain insight into the artist's personality while discovering that answers to questions are not as simple as the smile on one's face. Black and white photo reprints of some of da Vinci's works are included. 1998 (orig.