Life stories of women artists, 1550-1800

by Julia Kathleen Dabbs

It is an old adage that "anonymous" was a woman. However not all female artists are anonymous. In this anthology of biographies of female artists, Dabbs (art history, University of Minnesota) and her colleagues reproduce biographies of female artists written by their contemporaries. Each one is prefaced with an introduction on the biographer and anything more known about the artist. Each entry concludes with references for further research. The biographies are fascinating in that the authors' admiration for their subjects is evident, something not often understood by later scholars. The stories reflect both the constraints on women and also the appreciation many of them achieved in their lifetimes. While the time frame is 1550-1800, the first chapters discuss women mentioned in Classical and medieval texts. Historians of art, culture and women will enjoy this useful compilation.