About Triptych, a Historical Novel

     Triptych is a historical novel with three narratives that go backward in time: 1914 in Belgium, 1492 in Spain, and 1356 in France, tracing the journey of a mysterious statue of the Black Madonna. Such statues were often found in meadows or riverbeds, often associated with miracles. No one knows who sculpted them and why. Triptych proffers a story of Genevieve Lespinasse, trained by her father to become an accomplished sculptor. Circumstances force her to create a Madonna that appears to be clumsily made but contains an expertly carved secret niche. Her Madonna travels through the centuries to become part of the stories of two other women: Sister Juana, a nun and apothecary who dares to criticize the Spanish Inquisition, and Gabrielle Lespinasse, a Belgian lacemaker muted by a vicious assault, whose courage changes the lives of others.

      Marcia Whitney-Schenck is a Chicago-based author and artist who is interested in the integration of history, art, and spirituality. She has a masters degree in art history from the University of Chicago where she researched Rembrandt’s interpretation of Biblical narrative through images. Her book What God Gives (lulu.com) is a photographic documentation of spirituality throughout the world. Carrying Stones: A Spiritual Journey on El Camino, 2015, is available through Amazon.  The link to Triptych: https://www.amazon.com/Triptych-Marcia-Whitney-Schenck/dp/1719492999/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Marcia+Whitney-Schenck&qid=1600218874&sr=8-1