Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D.

This listening journey begins with a sweeping survey of women who have contributed to the visual arts from ancient Greece to the early twentieth century. The author assembled the material by writing to artists, collectors, and institutions across Europe and America, collecting details about training, honors, and notable works. The result is a carefully documented narrative that brings many forgotten names back into view.

Within its first section the book lists more than a thousand women, from the seventh‑century bas‑relief designer Kora to Baroque masters such as Artemisia Gentileschi and later pioneers like Angelica Kauffman and Clara MacChesney. Each entry is accompanied by a photograph or engraving, letting listeners picture paintings, sculptures, miniatures, and decorative pieces as they are described. Highlights include Sirani’s Infant Christ, Girardet’s Give Us This Day, and Rachel Ruysch’s flower studies, offering vivid snapshots of style across eras. The compilation reveals how these artists navigated training, patronage, and societal expectations, inviting deeper curiosity about their lives and work.