A Portrait in Shadow

Listed in the Visual Arts category on Art In Fiction, A Portrait in Shadow (2023) by Nicole Jarvis is a story of the sumptuous world of art and magic in 17th-century Florence. When Artemisia Gentileschi arrives in Florence seeking a haven for her art, she faces instant opposition from the powerful Accademia, self-proclaimed gatekeepers of Florence’s magical art world. As artists create their masterpieces, they add layer upon layer of magics drawn from their own life essence, giving each work the power to heal – or to curse. The all-male Accademia jealously guards its power and has no place for an ambitious young woman arriving from Rome under a cloud of scandal.    Haunted by the shadow of her harrowing past and fighting for every commission, Artemisia begins winning allies among luminaries such as Galileo Galilei, the influential Cristina de’ Medici, and the charming, wealthy Francesco Maria Maringhi. But not everyone in Florence wants to see Artemisia succeed, and when an incendiary preacher turns his ire from Galileo to the art world, Artemisia must choose between revenge and her dream of creating a legacy that will span the generations. "The rich and unique setting with a dark and twisted magic will capture the attention of readers who love alternative histories and fantasy novels." – Booklist Nicole Jarvis has been writing stories as long as she can remember. After graduating with degrees in English and Italian from Emory University, she moved to New York City to pursue a career in publishing. She has worked in marketing at Bloomsbury Publishing and lives in Manhattan with two cats named after children's book characters.   Buy Now from Amazon Buy Now from Bookshop