The Vanishing Point

In lush, glowing prose, Louise Hawes’s historical novel draws readers into the life and art of sixteenth-century Bologna with a compelling account of Lavinia Fontana, arguably the most famous female painter of the Italian Renaissance. Here readers will find a coming-of-age story filled with quest, complication, and catastrophe as well as miracles and hope. Although the novel is set four hundred years ago, the hard choices it involves speak to all times, all places, and are sure to tap into readers’ own conflicts between head and heart, real life and dreams.

In an era that denies women a place in the artist’s studio, can one young painter’s forbidden talent overcome tradition?

• The Italian Renaissance: Explore the vibrant, dangerous world of sixteenth-century Bologna, from the master’s workshop to the city’s bustling piazzas.
• A Strong Female Protagonist: Based on the true story of Lavinia Fontana, a young woman who risks everything to pursue her dream of becoming a painter in a man’s world.
• A Complex Father-Daughter Story: Vini must navigate her relationship with her father, a celebrated artist who is both her greatest obstacle and her only hope.
• Art History Comes to Life: Perfect for young readers who love art, history, and powerful stories about trailblazing women.

Fans of historical fiction will lose themselves in Hawes' sumptuously evoked Renaissance Italy, and aspiring artists will respond to Vini's amazement at "how full of drawings the world is." —Booklist, ALA, Boxed Review Hawes takes what is known of her (Lavinia Fontana, daughter of the painter Prospero Fontana) life and creates a fictionalized tale of a complicated adolescence. —Kirkus Reviews This book is a good choice for middle school students and will appeal especially to girls who can relate to its strong, female protagonist. —VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates)