The Creation of Eve

March 22, 2010
The largely unknown story of female Renaissance painter Sofonisba Anguissola (c. 15321625) is beautifully imagined here in YA novelist Cullen's sparkling adult debut. In a page-turning tale that brings to life the undercurrent of political, romantic, and interfamily rivalries in the court of Spanish King Felipe II, the author shines a light on Sofonisba, who is brought under the tutelage of Michelangelo and later appointed as a lady-in-waiting for the king's 14-year-old wife, Elisabeth, to whom she becomes a close confidante. The author offers an intriguing vision of what life was like for women of different economic and political stations at that time, and she also takes care to not short-shrift the specifics of Sofonisba's art and methods. Cullen has found a winning subject in Sofonisba, whose broken heart as a young woman colors her perceptions and judgment about the queen and her imperious husband, as well as the young Elizabeth's attraction to the king's brother, and Elizabeth's odd relationship with the king's son from his first marriage. Ongoing references to the Spanish Inquisition and the life of the controversial Michelangelo add depth to this rich story. "(Mar.)" .

January 1, 2010
YA author Cullen's foray into adult fiction features a groundbreaking female Renaissance painter but doesn't give her much to do.

Sofonisba Anguissola's father, an impoverished Genoan count, bucked convention to secure her the finest artistic training. Now Sofi, who signs her work Virgo, is studying in Rome with Michelangelo. She takes advantage of her chaperone Francesca's ill-advised absence one day in 1559 to consummate her infatuation with Tiberio, another of the maestro's apprentices. Their tryst is interrupted (too late for Sofi's virginity) by Michelangelo himself, and shortly thereafter Francesca whisks her disgraced charge back home to Cremona. Languishing in hopes of a proposal from Tiberio, Sofi receives instead a summons from the court of Felipe II of Spain. The king engages her as a drawing instructor and lady-in-waiting to his new bride, Elisabeth de Valois, 14-year-old daughter of Henri II of France. Sofi's artistic aspirations and thwarted longing for Tiberio are quickly overshadowed by Elisabeth's travails. Felipe eschews marital relations until she attains puberty, then waits patiently for her to conceive a child. Her mother, dragon-lady Catherine de Medici, tries to micromanage the marriage from afar. Soon, Sofi is Elisabeth's most trusted confidante, supplanting less loyal courtiers like Felipe's disgruntled sister Do˜a Juana and his mistress Eufrasia. The young queen is surrounded by a cadre of attractive young men, including the king's handsome young half brother, Don Juan (no relation to the legendary rake). He captures Elisabeth's heart, and their love threatens to doom both the queen and her allies. The author neglects Sofi's artistic and personal development in favor of a more conventional emphasis on romance—mostly a spectator sport for the painter at the Spanish court.

Covering little more than a third of Sofi's life, this love-obsessed narrative leaves plenty of room for a sequel, but no one's likely to be terribly interested unless it offers a more three-dimensional portrait of the artist.

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Starred review from January 15, 2010
The year is 1560; Elizabeth of Valois (154468) has just become the third wife of King Felipe of Spain, and the talented female painter Sofonisba Anguissola (15321625) has been appointed art instructor to the young queen. In a court filled with all manner of politics, from religious debate to petty jealousies and forbidden love affairs, these two conflicted and often unhappy young women find in each other a much-needed friend and companion. Through the eyes of Sofi, Cullen captivates her readers with the thrill and drama of 16th-century Spain. Hewing closely to historical record, the author fills in enough spaces to make a satisfying story but strategically leaves certain details to the imagination, a trick that has the reader deliciously wishing for just a little bit more. VERDICT Marking a strong adult historical fiction debut for YA author Cullen ("I Am Rembrandt's Daughter"), this is a good choice for fans of Tracy Chevalier, Sarah Dunant, or Elizabeth Kostova's "The Swan Thieves". Highly recommended. [See Prepub Alert, "LJ" 11/1/09; highlighted in AAP's Librarians' Spring 2010 Sneak Preview.]Leigh Wright, Bridgewater, NJ

Copyright 2010 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2010
Everyone has heard of Michelangelo, Raphael, and Leonardo da Vinci, but few are familiar with Renaissance painter Sofonisba Anguissola. Cullen, best-selling author of the YA hit I Am Rembrandts Daughter (2007), corrects this oversight with this finely textured fictional biography. One of the most celebrated portraitists of her day, Sofonisba honed her craft despite the double standard applied to both her life and her work. Denied the artistic and personal freedom granted even to men of lesser talent, she is forced to flee her native Italy in the wake of a sexually charged scandal. In her new role as painting instructor and lady-in-waiting to young Queen Elisabeth of Spain, Sofi is an intimate witness to the intrigues and maneuverings of King Felipes royal court. As Sofi and Elisabeth grow closer, it becomes apparent that each, in her own way, is an innocent victim of gender and class restrictions. Still, in every situation, Sofi always has her art, a treasured gift that enables her to rise above the artificially imposed margins proscribed by Renaissance culture and society. Cullen does a magnificent job reinvigorating a still-life portrait of an all-but-forgotten maestra.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)