Through both longer essays and shorter case studies, this book examines the relationship of European women from various countries and backgrounds to collecting, in order to explore the social practices and material and visual cultures of collecting in eighteenth-century Europe.

It recovers their lives and examines their interests, their methodologies, and their collections and objects-some of which have rarely been studied before. The book also considers women's role as producers, that is, creators of objects that were collected. Detailed examination of the artefacts-both visually, and in relation to their historical contexts-exposes new ways of thinking about collecting in relation to the arts and sciences in eighteenth-century Europe. The book is interdisciplinary in its makeup and brings together scholars from a wide range of fields.

It will be of interest to those working in art history, material and visual culture, history of collecting, history of science, literary studies, women's studies, gender studies, and art conservation.

About the Author

Arlene Leis is an independent art historian who received her PhD from University of York.

Kacie L. Wills received her PhD in English from the University of California, Riverside, and is Assistant Professor of English at Illinois College.

Reviews

"The frameworks and methodologies set forth by the authors gathered here will provide models for future feminist scholarship in archival research and in the effective deployment of endeavours in the digital humanities that make use of social network analysis." - Tori Champion, sehepunkte

"This is a valuable, well composed, and beautifully produced book. The fourteen chapters, divided among four parts, are all thoroughly researched and exhaustively documented. Each chapter has both clear, useful notes and a substantial bibliography."
-Larry W. Riggs, New Perspectives on the Eighteenth Century

Book Information
ISBN 9780367545390
Author Arlene Leis
Format Paperback
Page Count 220
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 580g