Altarpiece in Renaissance Venice

 The Altarpiece in Renaissance Venice by Peter Humfrey, 317 pages

As the title declares, in this book Peter Humfrey traces the development of altarpieces in the cultural sphere of Venice during a period roughly corresponding to the career of Giovanni Bellini.  It was a time rich in accomplishments in what he identifies as a unique genre, driven by liturgical changes, the burgeoning wealth of the Republic, and crises of war and plague.  Humfrey not only celebrates the work of artists including the Vivarinis, Cima, Carpaccio, Durer, and Titian, but also explores the nature of the genre, explicating the purpose of these works, how and by whom they were commissioned, and how they were conceived and realized.  The result is a solid if unspectacular guide to these works of surpassing beauty, created in a very specific time and place to serve a very specific function.

Starling

Starling by Fiona Paul     326 pages

This is the conclusion to The Secrets Of The Eternal Rose series.  I have read the first book and thought I had read the second.  I realized later that I had not read the second book and it had been long enough since I read the first that I didn’t remember a lot of details and it took me a few minutes to figure out what was going on, so I would recommend reading them in order.  Cass is still trying to bring down the Order of the Eternal Rose., but now that she is a fugitive that most people believe to be dead, she is having a more difficult time.  She is determined to steal the Order’s book, which has proof that they have been killing young women and draining them of their blood.  Her fiancée, Luca, also a fugitive, is trying to help her, but Cass is afraid that he will find out about her interest in Falco, an artist, and far beneath their class, but fascinating in his way.  Cass isn’t sure about her feelings for Falco, but she knows that she loves Luca.  In the meantime, the Order also wants to find her, because they believe her blood holds the key to eternal life.  A solid conclusion to the series, fans of historical fiction, and adventure will probably like this story.  There is a touch of romance, but it is not the main focus of the book.