Historical fiction book · Curated
The Marriage Portrait
Maggie O'Farrell · historical fiction
Lucrezia de’ Medici is married at fifteen to the Duke of Ferrara, then isolated in a court where a duchess can be painted, praised, and quietly discarded. O’Farrell turns a famous rumor—that Lucrezia was murdered—into close, tense biographical historical fiction of Renaissance Italy.
Why read it: From the author of Hamnet: a Women’s Prize–shortlisted portrait of a real Medici bride, and a gateway to Italian Renaissance historical novels.
About this historical novel
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell is historical fiction set around 1550–1561 in the Early modern period with key settings including Florence, Ferrara, Italy, Medici court. Lucrezia de’ Medici is married at fifteen to the Duke of Ferrara, then isolated in a court where a duchess can be painted, praised, and quietly discarded. O’Farrell turns a famous rumor—that Lucrezia was murdered—into close, tense biographical historical fiction of Renaissance Italy.
On HisFic we tag it under 4. Biographical fiction and 1. Literary historical fiction so you can pair it with similar story types. Recurring themes include marriage, power, art, court, and women. From the author of Hamnet: a Women’s Prize–shortlisted portrait of a real Medici bride, and a gateway to Italian Renaissance historical novels.
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Plot summary
Lucrezia de’ Medici is married at fifteen to the Duke of Ferrara, then isolated in a court where a duchess can be painted, praised, and quietly discarded. O’Farrell turns a famous rumor—that Lucrezia was murdered—into close, tense biographical historical fiction of Renaissance Italy. From the author of Hamnet: a Women’s Prize–shortlisted portrait of a real Medici bride, and a gateway to Italian Renaissance historical novels.
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Eras
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Regions & places
Europe
Florence · Ferrara · Italy · Medici court
Themes
- marriage
- power
- art
- court
- women
Tags
literary · book-club · award-shortlist