Plunge into the intimate history of cosmetics,and discover how,for centuries,women have turned to make up as a rich source of creativity,community and resistance The Renaissance was an era obsessed with appearances.
And beauty culture from the time has left traces that give us a window into an overlooked realm of history - revealing everything from sixteenth-century women's body anxieties to their sophisticated botanical and chemical knowledge.
How to be a Renaissance Woman allows us to glimpse the world of the female artists,artisans and businesswomen carving out space for themselves,as well as those who gained power and influence in the cut-throat world of the court.
In a vivid exploration of women's lives,Professor Jill Burke invites us to rediscover historical cosmetic recipes and unpack the origins of the beauty ideals that are still with us today.
Publisher: Profile Books LtdISBN: 9781788166669Number of pages: 336Weight: 560 gDimensions: 236 x 158 x 38 mmEdition: Main
MEDIA REVIEWS
'A total eye-opener,I loved it.'- Nuala McGovern,BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour
'A lively and intriguing exploration of female life in the Renaissance,lifting the lid on anxieties and aspirations that will sound oddly familiar to any 21st century reader. You'll never look at Renaissance portraits in the same way.'- Maggie O'Farrell
'Terrific...Drawing on early published beauty pamphlets,letters,poems,songs,diaries and recipe books,not to mention treatises by both men and women and the rich material of Renaissance art,(Burke) has emerged with enough knowledge to open her own Renaissance Body Shop...The book is that rare thing,a serious history that is both accessible and entertaining - no more so than when it comes to the age-old debate as to whether women's commitment to beauty is a sign of weakness,a pandering to male desire or a form of empowerment.'- Literary Review
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