The Marriage Portrait
Reese's Book Club
By Maggie O'Farrell
The story managed to maintain a sense of tension for a long time, despite the day to day life being somewhat dull for the duchess. (At least most days.) Beautifully written, very rich descriptions of the era and the symbolism were more than enough to carry my interest.
Young Lucrezia is married off for political reasons and sent far away from the only place she's ever known. She's essentially locked in a tower - isolated from family, no friends to speak of but a loyal servant and a happenstance visitor, no ability to do anything much other than dawdle - occasionally able to pursue her artwork. (The fact that she excels at painting baffles everyone).
The lack of agency and immense isolation facing Lurcrezia is conveyed really well. It's lonely, but also a bit bewildering and disorienting to have so little information about things that impact your own life. The whole time she's wondering just how displeased her husband is ...with her knowing too much, having opinions, and certainly it's unacceptable that she does not seem able to bear him a child.
Tags:
renaissance marriage art domestic violence nobility352 pages
Published Sep 5, 2022 by Knopf Publishing Group
Fiction - Literary
Fiction - Historical - Renaissance
Fiction - Women