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.
Genre: Historical
Genre: Historical
Praise for this book
"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
"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
". . . 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
"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
"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
". . . 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
"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
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