No season lends itself better to curling up with a good work of fiction and historical art themes than fall. Fall tends to be the most favored season of all, and for good reasons: weather is ideal, scenery is often gorgeous, and beloved end-of-the-year holidays are soon coming.
What is your favorite thing about fall?
2 Historical art themed Novels to Read This Fall
There’s nothing quite as satisfying as a well-written work of fiction on the topic of historical art. Books like these climb “bestsellers” lists because they appeal to individuals who have a passion for both literature as well as visual art. There are a couple of specific novels that beautifully marry these two forms of art.
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
Girl with a Pearl Earring isn’t just the title of a famous painting by Johannes Vermeer; it is also the name of a novel penned by Tracy Chevalier in 1999. The novel was so popular soon after its release that it inspired the film of the same name that grossed millions. According to Sophia Tobin, writer for The Guardian, “Chevalier was inspired by the latent intensity of the sitter’s gaze as it meets the viewer/artist. From this she creates the story of Griet, a servant girl who, through her interest in art, becomes close to her employer, Johannes Vermeer. The influence of Netherlandish art is clear in Chevalier’s luminous version of Delft and her subtle portrait of love and loss, as coolly lit as one of Vermeer’s paintings.” The lushness of this work of fiction will perfectly match the landscape that the fall season offers many.
I, Juan de Pareja by Elizabeth Borton de Treviño
Painter Diego Velázquez isn’t just a topic of interest to art scholars, but also to writers. Author Borton de Treviño wrote I, Juan de Pareja in 2008, and it was met with great acclaim, eventually snagging the Newbery Award. The novel is about Diego Velázquez and his slave who turned into his assistant who turned into his personal friend, Juan de Pareja. “Eventually Velázquez frees Pareja, who goes on to have his own respected career as an artist. Their relationship is fascinating, and even though Treviño’s rendition probably isn’t the gospel truth, it’s an illuminating glimpse inside the life of one of history’s most celebrated painters and his assistant. Plus the friendship between the two men will give you all the good feels,” claimed Erin Enders, writer for The Bustle.
Fall isn’t fall without blankets, candles, cozy chairs, and, above all, books. Stocking up on novels that cater to your preference for both visual art and good literature will ensure the perfect fall season as well as an enriched imagination.
Which of the novels mentioned here would you be most interested in reading this fall?
Read more Segmation blog posts…
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