In Holland 1633, a woman’s ambition has no place. Judith is a painter, dodging the law and whispers of murder to try to become the first woman admitted to the Haarlem painters guild. Maria is a Catholic in a country where the faith is banned, hoping to absolve her sins by recovering a lost saint’s relic. Both women’s destinies will be shaped by their ambitions, running counter to the city’s most powerful men, whose own plans spell disaster. A vivid portrait of a remarkable artist, A Light of Her Own is a richly-woven story of grit against the backdrop of Rembrandt and an uncompromising religion.Story behind the story . . .The trail of Judith Leyster’s career was so faint that only years after her death in 1660, collectors began attributing her few surviving paintings to other artists. She signed her work with only a beautiful, stylized monogram. Credit went to Frans Hals, Jan Miense Molenaer, and others. She would remain lost to history until 1893.
**
Review
“A vivid, ambitious novel about art and female friendship. With evocative detail, Callaghan transports us to 17th-century Holland and the early lives of Judith Leyster―who strives to be the first woman admitted to the elite Haarlem Painters Guild―and her friend and fellow artist, Maria, who has great talent but cannot match Judith’s raw ambition. A Light of Her Own is engaging, heartfelt, and brimming with color and light.”
―Frances de Pontes Peebles, author of The Seamstress and The Air You Breathe
( Frances de Pontes Peebles )
“Colorful and absorbing, Callaghan paints a lively portrait of seventeenth century Dutch life in A Light of Her Own , and the struggles female artists endured to make names for themselves. After reading, I found myself eager to book my next trip to the Netherlands!” ―Heather Webb, author of Rodin’s Lover
( Heather Webb )
“. . . Vividly rendered, Judith’s story is one of loyalty, independence, and finding her place in a world dominated by male artists like Rembrandt and Molenaer . . . I feel fortunate to have met Judith Leyster through Carrie Callaghan’s well-crafted words.” ―Jenni L. Walsh, author of Side by Side: A Novel of Bonnie and Clyde
( Jenni L. Walsh )
" A Light of Her Own follows two women as they seek space, respect and professional opportunity in a culture that allows them very little of it. Impeccably researched and vibrantly told, Carrie Callaghan's debut paints a picture worthy of Judith herself."
( Chloe Benjamin, bestselling author of The Immortalists )
"A Light of Her Own, as a portrait of two brave and ambitious Dutch women painters, and a glimpse into17th century life in Holland, is recommended to all fans of historical fiction." *― New York Journal of Books ( New York Journal of Books* )
"Set in 1633 Holland, Callaghan’s riveting debut convincingly brings to life determined painter Judith Leyster, the first woman to attain master status in the cutthroat profession... Callaghan skillfully balances both the intricacies of the 17th-century Dutch art world and the religious persecution of the time, making this a dextrously woven and engrossing historical novel." ― *Publisher’s Weekly ( Publisher's Weekly* )
"Against the backdrop of 1630s Holland, where women have little power and religion is strictly regulated, Callaghan’s debut shines a light on the friendship between two artists... Fans of Tracy Chevalier’s Girl with a Pearl Earring (2000) will enjoy this darker, grittier peek into the history of Dutch art and the struggles of women within that world." * ― Booklist ( Booklist* )
" A Light of Her Own is a beautifully crafted story set in seventeenth-century Holland, in which two women navigate the law, destiny, and their unstoppable ambition... Sensory details evoke the light, the feel, and the smell of the setting... a riveting fictionalized account of Judith Leyster." *― Foreword Reviews*
From the Back Cover
In Holland 1633, a woman’s ambition has no place.
Judith is a painter, dodging the law and whispers of murder to try to become the first woman admitted to the Haarlem painters guild. Maria is a Catholic in a country where the faith is banned, hoping to absolve her sins by recovering a lost saint’s relic.
Both women’s destinies will be shaped by their ambitions, running counter to the city’s most powerful men, whose own plans spell disaster. A vivid portrait of a remarkable artist, A Light of Her Own is a richly-woven story of grit against the backdrop of Rembrandt and an uncompromising religion.
Story behind the story . . .
The trail of Judith Leyster’s career was so faint that only years after her death in 1660, collectors began attributing her few surviving paintings to other artists. She signed her work with only a beautiful, stylized monogram. Credit went to Frans Hals, Jan Miense Molenaer, and others. She would remain lost to history until 1893.
ABC : 1
Number of Words in Auth: 2
Formats : EPUB
Number of Formats : 1
Has Cover : Yes
All Identifiers : amazon:B07PBH1PH5, goodreads:40389652, isbn:9781944995898
Single Author : Carrie Callaghan
Original Source : New_Train_Pack_2019-152
Sorted Author by LN, FN: Callaghan, Carrie
Title Length : 018
Title Parm D : A Light of Her Own
Title Parm F : A Light of Her Own
Title Parm A : A Light of Her Own
Title Parm B : (
ES Lib Name : NIRC 2019-10
Record ID : 10538
Uncomma Author : Carrie Callaghan
Num of Aut : 1