The warm pressed surface of my clothes truly looked new apart from the rips in my jeans. I pulled my pants slowly over my fresh wounds. My green sweater smelled like roses as I slipped it over my head. When I emerged from the bathroom, I saw Charlemagne parked in the driveway. I ran outside to greet Dad, and Mrs. Reed followed close behind.
“We will see each other soon, sweet Viola,” she said leaving an eerie imprint of her lipstick on my forehead.
To my unadjusted eyes, Charlemagne was the essence of technology. Once the car rolled to a stop, I hopped in. Mrs. Reed held the car door open, reaching over to shake hands with my dad. Her perfume clashed with my dad’s familiar musky aftershave.
“Thank you so much for sharing Viola with me. I think we had a wonderful time.”
“Thank you for having her.” My dad smiled, letting go of her hand.
Mrs. Reed shut the car door and kept up a steady wave as we rolled back down the winding entrance. I sat savoring the comfort of just sitting down and not having to do anything for the next hour. I propped my head against the cold window as we drove past the dormant gardens and spider gate. The heat from the vents gave off a burnt smell, but the toasty car felt magnificent. My hands retreated into my knit sleeves as I sunk further into the car seat and let my eyes close.
“Missed you like crazy, Dad,” I said, turning to squeeze him.
“Nonsense, Violet, I was only gone two hours!” He laughed, veering off onto the grass.
“Violet … Violet Menet …” I whispered to myself. It felt strange now to hear it. Who was Violet? She was a girl with no friends, no confidence, and scared of everything, including people, but especially of frogs. Was I Violet?
“Dad?”
“Hmm?”
“I don’t think Violet suits me anymore.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean … I think Viola suits me better, not Violet.”
“Is this about what I said to Mrs. Reed?” he asked as we braced a bump in the road. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you. The words just flew out of my mouth. You have a term for that … what do you call it? Word vomit?”
“Wormit.”
“Yes! Exactly … wormit.”
“Don’t worry, that isn’t what this is about. I don’t want to hide behind a name anymore. Viola is who I want to be.”
“That’s good enough for me. Your mom will be thrilled. How did you bang up your knees?” He winced.
“I fell down the stairs.”
“So clumsy! Were your jeans torn when you left the house?”
“Yes, Dad.”
“It’s good I didn’t notice until now, otherwise I would have asked you to change. I don’t get this ripped jeans fashion statement. I hope I didn’t pay for those,” he rambled.
“Who won the game?”
“Manchester United, unfortunately,” was the last thing I heard before I dozed off.
GLOSSARY
A
Aisle: a long pathway of an interior area, as in a church, separated from the main area by a structure like an arcade.
Allora: an Italian word that is used frequently as a filler or to express interest. It can mean "then," "really," "so," or to express surprise.
Arcade: a sequence of arches sustained by piers.
Arch: in its pure form a structure (usually curved) that spans a distance and maintains the weight above it.
B
Baptistery: a Christian structure within a church or a separate building where the sacrament of baptism is administered.
Barrel Vault: also called tunnel vault; the extension of an arch's curve.
Basilica: this term was originally used to describe a public Roman building. It later became known as a large and important church that received special ceremonies from the Pope.
Bastard: the term bastard is often understood as an insult for children born to unmarried parents or children without legitimate fathers. During this period an illegitimate child, was relegated to second-class citizenry status and was unable to hold public office. Moreover, they were socially and professionally disadvantaged.
Botticelli, Sandro (b. 1445 – d. 1510): an early Renaissance painter whose major patron was Lorenzo de’ Medici. He was born in Florence and given the name Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi. It is noted that he was apprentice to Fra Filippo Lippi. He is well known for his beautiful allegorical paintings such as The Birth of Venus and Primavera. Some historians argue that he suffered from an unrequited love for Simonetta Vespucci. Prior to his death, Botticelli requested to be buried at her feet.
Brunelleschi, Filippio (b. 1377 – d. 1446): was one of the most innovative architects and engineers of the Italian Renaissance. He is immortalized for engineering the dome of the Florence Cathedral or Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore as well as for rediscovering architectural feats that had been lost in the Middle Ages.
C
Ceninni, Cennino d’Andrea (approx. b. 1370 –d. 1440): a painter influenced by Giotto. He was the author of Il Libro dell’Arte (translated to The Craftsman’s Handbook,) which explains many of the complex procedures carried out in artists’ workshops.
Charlemagne (approx. b. 747 –d. 814 A.D.): also known as Charles the Great, or Charles I, the founder of the Carolingian Empire, reigning from 768 A.D. until his death.
Cloister: a rectangular building framed by open galleries with arcades running along its sidewalls. It is commonly attached to a cathedral or church to separate the life of the monks from that of the people.
Colonnades: a series of columns that can be open or joined by another form.
Creato: means little creature. It is what they often called young apprentices in workshops.
Credi, di Lorenzo (b. 1459 – d. 1537): an artist and sculptor that began his apprenticeship in Andrea del Verrocchio’s workshop. After the Maestro’s death, he inherited the direction of the workshop.
Crypt: a stone chamber built beneath the ground that can contain tombs, coffins, bones, or relics.
D
Dominican Order: a Roman Catholic religious order founded by Spanish priest Saint Domini de Guzman in the 13th century. This intellectual order preaches the gospel to fight heresy.
Dowry: the wealth given from the bride’s family to the groom’s family upon marriage.
Drum: the hollow space contained within the dome.
Duomo: Italian for dome. The Cathedral of Florence, also called Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, is nicknamed the Duomo. Its construction began in 1296. The base structure was crowned by its dome at the beginning of the 15th century.
F
Façade: a term that commonly refers to the front exterior of a building.
Fleur-de-lis: a heraldic device of three stylized petals or floral segments of an iris enclosed by a band.
Franciscan Order: similar to the Dominican order, a Roman Catholic order but founded in 1209 by Saint Francis of Assisi. Followers of this order vow to live as Christ did. In that, they are to have no worldly possession and to preach to the common people.
Fresco: a technique of wall painting which involves applying lime plaster and then painting directly on the surface while it is still wet. This locks the pigment into place.
G
Gables: part of the front or side of a building enclosed by a pitched roof; often includes a window.
Ginerva and Antonio: characters based on real people named Ginevra degli Amieri and Antonio Rondinelli, as well as related events from early 15th century Florence.
Grasso: upper or elite social class of Florence.
Guild: a group of merchants or artisans who strive to uphold standards and to defend the interests of its members.
H
Herculaneum: an ancient Roman port city that was d
estroyed along with Pompeii during the Eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Now, it is a rich archaeological site with thousands of petrified objects.
I
Incappucciati: a group of hooded men dedicated to the assistance of the sick and injured and the burial of abandoned corpses.
Inlay: a technique that is most often used with stone where separate pieces of stone are carved in an exact manner and then fused together by the precision of all the separate pieces.
L
Linear Perspective: a mathematical technique for illustrating three-dimensional objects and area on a two-dimensional surface by transecting lines vertically and horizontally that radiate from one point (one-point perspective), two points (two-point perspective), or several points on a horizon line.
Lost Wax Method: a method that involved carving a full-scale wax model and then covering it with a fire resistant material like clay. The wax and clay were then heated until the wax melted out, leaving a hollow mold.
Lapis lazuli: a blue stone known to be found only in Afghanistan, hence its expensive price tag.
M
Malachite: a green mineral or basic copper carbonate. In history, it was often used to paint vivid green and blue hues.
Masaccio (b. 1401 –d. 1428): one of the great painters from the early Italian renaissance. His given name was Tommaso di Ser Giovanni di Simone. He inspired many artists in the Renaissance and is considered a painting pioneer in using linear perspective.
Medici, Giuliano (b. 1453 – d. 1478): the younger brother of Lorenzo de’ Medici and the second son of Piero the Gouty. It is said he was well loved and handsome. He fathered one illegitimate son who would later become Pope Clement VII. Giuliano was assassinated at the Duomo during the Pazzi conspiracy.
Medici, Lorenzo (b. 1449 – d. 1492): also known as Lorenzo the Magnificent, was the eldest son and heir of the Medici fortune. He ruled the Florentine Republic for many years. He is noted for his academic and political prowess. In addition, his patronage of the arts and the humanist pursuits led Florence into its Golden Age.
Memento Mori: a Latin saying that means “remember that you will die.” It is a symbolic reminder of the inevitability of death.
Mercato Vecchio: the old market built on the site of the ancient Roman Forum. It was in an area of Florence that was demolished, along with the old Ghetto, at the turn of the 20th century and led the way for the creation of the Piazza della Repubblica.
Minuto: lower class or "the people."
Monochromatic: a term to describe an object or painting made up of one color or shades of one color.
Moria: also called the Black Death, was an epidemic that peaked in Europe from 1350 to 1400. During this period over a third of Europe’s population was killed by the disease. The disease also known as the bubonic plague.
N
Nave: the main passageway of a church. It ranges from the main entrance or narthex to the altar. Aisles commonly flank its sides.
Niche: a decorative recess in a barrier. It is often used to hold statues or other ornamental objects.
Nonna: Italian for "grandmother."
Nonno: Italian for "grandfather."
O
Ocher: organic pigment obtained from the earth that ranges from yellow to orange in color.
Oculus: the circle at a dome’s center.
Ospedale degli Innocenti: is also called Hospital of the Innocents, was an orphanage designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, who received the commission in 1419.
P
Palazzo: Italian for palace.
Pediment: a low triangular gable and commonly forms a major division of a façade.
Perugino, Pietro (approx. b. 1450 – d. 1523): a painter who was trained in Andrea de Verrocchio’s workshop.
Piazza: a large open square. It is usually surrounded by buildings and has at its center a statue, monument, or fountain.
Pilaster: a rectangular structure jutting from a wall with a base and capital that mimics the form of a column.
Pillar: a shaft of masonry usually used as a building support but can also stand alone.
Popolo: an Italian word that refers to “the people.”
Putti: cherub angels.
R
Relief: an artistic method used when carving with stone. Scenes are etched in high or low relief into the stone. Low means a shallow carving and high refers to more modeling.
Rose Window: often refers to a principal circular window, but is often used to describe those found in church facades.
Renaissance: a time period of the renewal of art, literature, and humanism in Europe beginning in the 14th century and lasting into the 17th century.
Renaissance Man: a term used to describe a person who shows talent or has an expertise over a wide variety of subjects.
S
Salai (b. 1480– d. 1520): the only real person and artist whose character I transplanted into an earlier time. His given name was Gian Giacomo Caprotti da Oreno. He became an apprentice of Leonardo da Vinci in Milan and stayed under his workshop for many years. The nickname "Salai" means "little devil" and it was given to him by Leonardo for his mischievous nature.
Santa Croce: a Franciscan basilica in Florence consecrated in 1443. Its format is meant to imitate the Franciscan austere principles. It has long since been a popular center of patronage and contains the tombs of many famous individuals including Michelangelo and Galileo.
San Lorenzo: another basilica in Florence. Brunelleschi was commissioned to design the building, which was finished after his death in 1470. Its principle patrons were the Medici family. It is also where several prominent members of the family are buried, including Lorenzo il Magnifico and Giuliano.
Santa Maria Novella: a Dominican basilica consecrated in the year 1420. It was named novella (new) because it was built on the site of a 9th century Dominican oratory. Several powerful Florentine families such as the Strozzi or Gondi commissioned many of its pivotal frescoes.
Sarcophagus: a stone coffin that can bear inscriptions or sculpture.
Signoria: a noun signifying the government used by some Italian city states throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
T
Transept: a principal portion of the body of a church that often crosses the nave.
V
Va bene: means "OK" or "all right" in Italian.
Vault: an architectural term describing an arched structure used to secure a space with a ceiling or roof.
Verrocchio, de Andrea (b. 1435 – d. 1488): a sculptor and painter, he changed his given name from Andrea di Michele di Francesco de’ Cioni to adopt the surname of the Master goldsmith under whom he was an apprentice. Andrea de Verrocchio was also the Maestro of his own workshop. His workshop is responsible for several pivotal sculptures of the Golden Age and for pupils including Leonardo da Vinci and Lorenzo di Credi.
Vespucci, Simonetta (b. 1453 – d. 1476): was a young noblewoman from Genoa and the wife of Marco Vespucci of Florence. Apart from being renowned as the greatest beauty of Florence, it is hypothesized that she is the model for several of Botticelli’s masterpieces, including The Birth of Venus.
Vinci, da Leonardo (b. 1377 – d. 1446): One of the most famous artists of all time. He is the definition of what many call a Renaissance man. Not only is he renowned for his artwork but also for his ingenuity in the fields of engineering, science, music, and architecture. In his later years, he moved to Milan and offered his services to the Sforza family. In his life, he completed very few paintings but he left an invaluable legacy for generations in the form of studies and inventions.
Z
Zio: Italian for "uncle."
Zia: Italian for "aunt."
About the Author
Maria Cristina Trujillo was born in the su
mmer of 1987 at the Air Force Academy hospital in Colorado Springs, CO. As she grew up she lived in several states and countries along with her parents, two sisters, and brother. In 2005, Maria moved from Santiago, Chile to Miami, FL where she received her B.A. in Art History from Florida International University. While working towards her degree, she studied abroad in San Gemini, Italy. She went on to acquire her Master’s degree in art history with a focus in Latin American textiles. Since receiving her degrees, she has worked towards introducing art history to a broader audience. She is passionate about art as well as history and tries to conserve them in the memories of the present. Apart from writing while consuming toxic quantities of coffee, she loves to read, paint, cook, and explore the world beyond her front door.
Lost in the City of Flowers (The Histories of Idan Book 1) Page 32