Rachel van Kooij

Bartolomé és un jove amb el cos petit i deforme. Nascut en un poblet de Castella, es trasllada amb la família a Madrid, on el pare treballa de cotxer a la cort de Felip IV. Per casualitat crida l’atenció de la infanta Margarita, que s’encapritxa d’ell com si fos una joguina i l’adopta com a «gosset humà». Així passa a formar part del seguici de nans disponibles per a la diversió de la infanta. Li posen una disfressa i Andrés, membre del taller de pintors de la cort dirigit per Velázquez, sempre ha de pintar-li una cara de gos. Neix una relació d’amistat entre ells, i l’oficial de pintor descobreix que Bartolomé té talent per a la pintura. Andrés haurà de rumiar com pot alliberar el seu amic del destí de mascota humana.… (meer)

I enjoyed this story even though poor Bartolomé suffers for much of it. Set in 17th century Spain, Bartolomé is not like his brothers and sisters, he has been born into a deformed and twisted body, he's also a dwarf. When his father moves the family to Madrid, Bartolomé is seen by the young Infanta princess and she wants him to be her human pet dog. The book covers the period of the painting of Velaquez's Las Meninas masterpiece in 1656.
Bartolomé is an inspiring little character, his soul sparkles through the great indignities he has to suffer, and one is relieved that he finds friends among the apprentices in Velaquez's studio where he is taken to have his dog face painted on every few days.
I was reminded of the book Wonder and also a little of Freak the mighty but here we are seeing prejudice and bullying of the disabled 17th century style.… (meer)