I stumbled upon this book while looking for something different from the usual 19th-century classics, and what a find it was. Les Filleules de Rubens (The Goddaughters of Rubens) is a historical novel that feels surprisingly fresh, even though it was written in the 1840s about the 1600s.

The Story

The book opens in Antwerp right after the death of the legendary painter Peter Paul Rubens. His death sends ripples through the city, but the shock is deepest for his three teenage goddaughters. Marguerite is thoughtful and artistic, Isabelle is passionate and impulsive, and Clara is gentle and observant. They're grieving not just a famous artist, but a kind mentor who saw them as individuals.

Their world turns upside down when they learn Rubens left them a special, non-monetary legacy. He didn't just give them money or a painting; he entrusted them with something intangible but powerful—a kind of intellectual or spiritual inheritance related to his art and vision. The problem? No one knows exactly what it is or how to claim it. This secret becomes a magnet for trouble. Their families see it as a key to status and wealth. Ambitious suitors and rival artists start showing up, pretending to care for the girls while really wanting access to Rubens's final secret. The three goddaughters have to navigate this web of greed and deception while figuring out what their godfather truly meant for them.

Why You Should Read It

What grabbed me was how personal the history feels. Berthoud doesn't just use Rubens as a famous name. He builds a living, breathing Antwerp around his absence. The real heart of the story is the bond between the three girls. They're not just pretty faces in fancy dresses; they have distinct personalities and clash with each other as much as they support one another. Watching them try to understand their godfather's last wish—and defend it from people who want to twist it for their own gain—is genuinely tense. It's less about a treasure hunt and more about these young women finding their voices and agency in a society that wants to silence them or marry them off for advantage. The "mystery" of the legacy is really a mirror held up to the characters, revealing who is honorable and who is corrupt.

Final Verdict

This is a perfect pick for readers who love historical fiction that focuses on character and atmosphere over bloody battles. If you enjoyed the personal stakes and detailed settings of books like The Miniaturist or The Girl with a Pearl Earring, you'll feel right at home here. It's also a great find for anyone interested in art history from a new angle—not the painter on the scaffold, but the lives he touched. Fair warning: it's the first in a series (Tome I), so the central mystery isn't fully resolved by the end, but the journey with Marguerite, Isabelle, and Clara is so engaging you won't mind the cliffhanger. A hidden gem waiting to be rediscovered.