Rod Buntzen’s Historical Fiction Novel Reimagines a Defining Rivalry of the Renaissance

In “1501 Leonardo and Michelangelo in a Tale of Art, Love, and Betrayal,” author Rod Buntzen brings readers to Florence at the dawn of the 16th century, where three young artists—Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael—are portrayed not as distant icons, but as men wrestling with ambition, temptation, and the pursuit of greatness.

The story begins with a chance encounter in a Florentine inn, where the three debate philosophy, technique, and the public’s preference for beauty over realism. From this conversation emerges an unusual experiment: working together on a single canvas to test their distinct artistic styles. While Raphael embraces the idea readily, Michelangelo hesitates, his choice complicated by a bargain with the ghost of Savonarola, a Dominican friar who was executed for denouncing art during the Renaissance.

As the work progresses in Leonardo’s hidden workshop, collaboration gives way to conflict. Michelangelo’s growing attraction to Leonardo heightens personal tensions, while the scheming Machiavelli uncovers their secret and plots to use it for his own advantage. The novel interlaces art, politics, and forbidden desire into a compelling narrative that offers a fresh perspective on the origins of one of history’s most famous rivalries.

Buntzen approaches the story with a balance of historical insight and imaginative reconstruction. By placing familiar figures in unfamiliar circumstances, the book suggests how personal relationships and hidden conflicts might have influenced the animosity history has recorded between Leonardo and Michelangelo.

Rod Buntzen lives in Portland, Oregon , and enjoyed a distinguished career in research and development for the U.S. Department of the Navy before serving as chief scientist in advanced technology. His interest in art, history, and the human stories behind great cultural shifts informs his writing.

“1501 Leonardo and Michelangelo in a Tale of Art, Love, and Betrayal” is currently available through Amazon and other major online bookstores. Grab a copy today!

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