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Bookshop Genres The Artist and the Innkeeper by Alan Ioffredo
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Book details
  • Genre:FICTION
  • SubGenre:Historical / General
  • Language:English
  • Pages:426
  • Paperback ISBN:9781543996098

The Artist and the Innkeeper

by Alan Ioffredo

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Overview
Bernardino Luini was a man so gifted, his work was often attributed to Leonardo da Vinci. This romantic Renaissance journey begins with the artist's humble start and tutelage in Leonardo's shadow. The life of this curiously-forgotten artist and poet is explored against a backdrop of misadventures, relationships, and the creation of frescos that even today inspire awe in art lovers all over the world.
Description
Bernardino Luini was a man so gifted, his work was often attributed to Leonardo da Vinci. This romantic Renaissance journey begins with the artist's humble start and tutelage in Leonardo's shadow. The life of this curiously-forgotten artist and poet is explored against a backdrop of misadventures, relationships, and the creation of frescos that even today inspire awe in art lovers all over the world. Coming of age in Milan, Bernardino departs the city to escape scandal and an ill-fated love affair, only to be dogged by misfortune. His creativity and faith are challenged until fate takes him to Serono, where a soulful innkeeper promises the possibility of redemption. In this rich and lyrical novel, the artistic legacy of Renaissance Italy's most prolific fresco artist is paralleled by the journey of his muse. Take an inspiring walk with these conflicted souls in their pursuit of beauty amidst darkness and faith in the unseen.
About the author

Alan Ioffredo is a first generation Italian American and an ardent appreciator of his heritage. He is a founding partner of ALENA Wealth and an adjunct faculty member at Boston University's MET College. He lives near Boston with his wife after having raised three children and a dog. This is his first novel.


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Book Reviews

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Timothy 		Depth and beauty make this a memorable read The Artist and the Innkeeper proved an entrancing read highlighting the life and times of fresco artist Bernardino Luini. I was drawn to Ioffredo's story line uniting historic facts and imagined role players, including those responsible for DiSaronno amaretto. Ioffredo gives us such insight into his Renaissance characters that I felt I personally knew the prolific fresco artist and his supporting cast. Warning: Don’t be rushed. I savored Ioffredo's careful choice of words, absent artifice and vital to the story's telling. I delighted in the natural confluence of Italian and English, both authentic and easily understood. I often found myself slowing down to experience a nuance or visualize a scene through descriptive details or ones the author encouraged from my imagination. Depth and beauty make this a memorable read. I was surprised by the intimacy with which we are included Bino’s and Caterina’s private lives, and pleased at the respectful way these were treated; there was nothing crass or gratuitous. Both the lovely and horrid passages were plausible and necessarily life-changing for the characters. Informative and well researched, it seemed Ioffredo himself lived these scenes, believed the faith, and craved the friendships, art and sweet apricot liquor we enjoy today. The villains were credible, the hero relatable and the tension and resolution kept me coming back for more. I wish the title made sense sooner, but it added to the suspense and proved gratifying in its outcome. I hope there is more to come from this author. Read more
Raymond 		Great Read! This novel chronicles the intertwining stories of the Renaissance artist Bernardino Luini and his muses as they make their way toward the dramatic and emotional denouement in Serono, Italy. Ioffredo is a good storyteller and has crafted a captivating narrative that brings to life the characters, the time, and the place. He is adept at using language to create images, and whether of a sunset, country villa, city alley, cathedral, the stages of creating a fresco, or a finished work of art, the pictures were painted vividly. Ioffredo’s love and appreciation for the land, the people, the history, and the art are all clearly evident throughout the book. Further, the novel is not a naïve or sugar-coated rendering – darkness, depravity, violation, and injustice, as well as just “good old” human folly and avarice are also recognized and described. Beyond being an interesting tale, The Artist and the Innkeeper provides thoughtful commentary on primary elements of our humanity. Embedded within are classic themes: love, to be sure, but also faith, beauty, desire, loss, guilt, power, good, evil, betrayal, suffering and redemption. This is Ioffredo’s inaugural novel, and I am hoping (as I expect are many others) that it is not his last. Read more
Catherine 		Intriguing Renaissance Novel An intriguing and well written account of the life of Renaissance artist, Bernardino Luini. It was a pleasure to become acquainted with the real life fresco artist and his work. The author weaves a romantic story of his life and the legend associated with the Innkeeper. If you like historical fiction and Renaissance art, this is a great book. You will not be disappointed. Read more