In the twenty-first century, Rebecca Howell is transfixed by
the beauty of Giovanni Strazza’s masterpiece the Veiled Virgin. The sculpture was created in Italy in the mid -1800s
but is housed at the Presentation Convent in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Its existence
is one of the best-kept secrets in North America. Rebecca can’t help but wonder
why in 1856 the Italian artist allowed such a brilliant example of his work to
come to this remote island.
She discovers that although the work is signed by Strazza,
it is not listed with his other sculptures, and there are no existing documents
for the sale of the work. Rebecca travels to Italy to solve the mystery. Her research
on Strazza and the Veiled Virgin with
be the subject for her doctoral degree in history.
