The Grotesque Children’s Book
In 1581, one of the painters of the Uffizi ceiling frescoes overheard plots to murder the duke and duchess of Florence. The painter disappeared, but not before he had the chance to paint clues to the murder plot into the symbology of the images in the ceiling. The painter’s disappearance set off a whirlwind of paranoia and cover-up, involving alchemists, dukes, duchesses, scientists, doctors, bar wenches, a nasty corrupt barrister, and a mysterious illustrated folio of fairy tales and myths which wasn’t quite as harmless as it first appeared.
Note from the Translator
Between February and August of 1581, eighteen-year-old Santi del Megli painted frescoes on at least nine of the ceilings of the Uffizi Gallery’s East Wing. The art on these ceilings has been reproduced here. As best as scholars can calculate, Santi worked on nine bays: 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 33, 34 and 37, reproduced on the Ceilings tab. Or see your other options below. But, really, you want to see these originals in Florence, where you don’t have to put up with poor reproductions and annoying photo-splicing.
What’s here? You have several options:
- View the artwork
- Read the novel (which includes the folio).
- Read the folio
THREE ways to view the artwork:
- Click the Ceiling tab
- Launch the e-book version
- Download pdf
View the artwork (three choices):
Or download pdf of ceilings artwork.
Read the novel:
Read the folio: