I read all of it. I bought this book a long ago because I have always had a fascination for Leonardo da Vinci. I love his amazing drawings (I was not surprised that he learned by dissecting corpses. I think that his art had to include a very sound knowledge of anatomy.

Unfortunately, there are very little facts about Leonardo and his mother Caterina. The author researched numerous books on the two and the time period.I enjoyed the fruits of her research and think it must have been very challenging to create a pausible or sometimes implausible story. I am positive that I could not have done it.

Leonardo da Vinci was a vegetarian and I enjoyed learning that. In the book, he said that he could not eat any creature with a face! That made a big impression with me because it was eyes of creatures that helped me decide to be a vegetarian and stick to it.

It was fascinating that Caterina took on the dress of a man, made her voice deeper and carried a horn for the purpose of fooling other men when they saw her arc of urine against the wall or bush. I was also not famiiar the de Medici family and the author created a very engaging portrait of them.

It was a very long book and in fine print so this time I am glad to have stuck out. I do think that I learned much more that I previously known about the time period and certainly of Florence, Italy. The author is talented and most of the book held my interest. It was not a page turner but there were tidbits of history that made me ponder what if this had not happened and I also have a clear idea of an apothecary shop versus an alchemist lab. ( )

3.5 stars
Good historical fiction that tells the back story of Leonardo da Vinci's mother. Populated with real people from the era - Lorenzo de Medici, Botticelli, Savanarolla, Pope Innocent, etc. A good read, and I learned a little more about this time and place in history. ( )

Robin Maxwell is one of my favourite historical fiction authors and she's written about some famous and influential female figures from history, including: Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I.

Signora da Vinci is told from the perspective of Leonardo da Vinci's mother, Caterina. We begin in 1452, when Caterina gives birth out of wedlock to Leonardo. Her heart is broken when her lover's family refuse to accept the match and rip Leonardo from her arms to raise in their - more noble - family.

Caterina is an apothecary after her father, who is a well-travelled, well-read and respected man in their little town of Vinci in Italy. When her son becomes a man, he moves to Florence and Caterina wishes to see him. Not being able to travel alone (as a woman) and fearing recognition from Leonardo's father, she disguises herself as a man and changes her name to Cato.

Her disguise works and the novel really takes off from here. Lorenzo de' Medici becomes Leonardo's patron and Cato one of his closest friends.

Signora da Vinci is filled with art (the great Botticelli is also a character), religion (including the making of the Shroud of Turin by Leonardo) alchemy and the pursuit of knowledge, however forbidden it might be.

Cato is invited to join The Platonic Academy and I thoroughly enjoyed his deception and the insights Caterina was able to get from carrying herself as a man. I also have a new appreciation for the portrait of the Mona Lisa, but no spoilers here.

Not much is really known about Leonardo's mother Caterina, and so when reading Signora da Vinci you will enjoy it more if you suspend your disbelief and just dive in. It's fair to say that a number of liberties have been taken with dates and events, but the period has been well researched and this is a fun 'what if' read. ( )

Good book but it dragged on little too much. I don't know that much about Italy's history so can't really tell what's true and what's not. ( )

This book is a great read and a favorite. The love that Caterina had for Leonardo is so vivid. And Ms. Maxwell does an excellent job of bringing to life Leonardo's mischievous nature and allows the reader to see into his mind. Also captured was the feeling of Italy. You can feel the tension running on the streets. Excellent book. The book also provides a background into the Medici's and Florence. ( )