I, Mona Lisa

I, Mona Lisa

UK edition of the novel
Author	Jeanne Kalogridis
Language	English language
Genre	Historical novel
Publisher	St. Martin's Griffin
Publication date	2006
Publication place	United States

I, Mona Lisa (UK title Painting Mona Lisa) is a 2006 historical novel by Jeanne Kalogridis about Lisa di Antonio Gherardini, the model for Leonardo da Vinci's painting Mona Lisa . ^{[1] [2]}

Plot

Lisa is portrayed as a young Italian woman who learns about the murder of Giuliano de' Medici, the brother of Lorenzo de' Medici in the Pazzi conspiracy in 1478. Giuliano's murder casts a shadow, especially as one of the killers has not been found.

She later falls in love with Giuliano's namesake, Lorenzo's son Giuliano in the aftermath of Girolamo Savonarola's uprising in the late 15th century.

Reception

Library Journal rated the book as "highly recommended", comparing it to The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant and Leonardo's Swans by Karen Essex. ^[1] Publishers Weekly called it a "fevered bodice ripper" which "invents a passionate woman behind La Gioconda's enigmatic smile". ^[3]

Kirkus Reviews noted that while Kalogradis provided "plenty of cloak-and-dagger goings-on", "the characters ring more romantic than true, especially Leoardo". ^[4]

References

1. Whitney, Loralyn (2006). "I, Mona Lisa". Library Journal . Retrieved April 13, 2025– via EBSCOhost.
2. Page, Benedicte (February 3, 2006). "New Titles". Bookseller. Retrieved April 13, 2025– via EBSCOhost.
3. "I, Mona Lisa". Publishers Weekly . September 4, 2006. Retrieved April 13, 2025– via EBSCOhost.
4. "I, Mona Lisa". Kirkus Reviews . August 1, 2006. Retrieved April 13, 2025– via EBSCOhost.