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I, Juan de Pareja (Art Historical Fiction)
What would it be like to be the slave of the great Spanish painter Diego Velázquez? To grind his paints, stretch his canvases, and clean his paint brushes every day? This fictional novel by Elizabeth Borton de Treviño gives a creative look into the life of Juan de Pareja, the slave of Velázquez. Throughout, Juan tells of his master's life through his own eyes - what it was like to watch Velázquez paint, to accompany him on the errands of the King, and to learn to paint in secret by watching his master's technique, as such work was forbidden to slaves. Little is known for certain about Velázquez and Juan's relationship, but the author does a wonderful job drawing from what is known to create this enjoyable Newberry Medal book with a bittersweet ending. 180 pgs, pb. - elise
