Book
How to be a Renaissance woman : the untold history of beauty & female creativity / Jill Burke.
"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 16th-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 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"-- Provided by publisher.
Record details
- ISBN: 9781639365906 (hardcover)
- Physical Description: xiii, 317 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some colour) ; 24 cm
- Edition: First Pegasus Books cloth edition.
- Publisher: New York : Pegasus Books, 2024.
Content descriptions
| Bibliography, etc. Note: | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| Formatted Contents Note: | Introduction -- Part one. Beauty ideals -- Venus and the fruit seller -- What is a (Renaissance) woman? -- Sprezzatura and the natural look -- Part two. Judgement -- Was Renaissance beauty culture oppressive or empowering? -- Beauty tips for brides -- Whiteface -- Part three. Renaissance bodywork -- Getting in shape -- Breast bags, nose jobs and labiaplasty -- Witch hunts and body hair -- Part four. Power (un)dressing -- Beauty's dangerous paths -- Nakedness and the power of the gaze -- Rebellious hair -- Part five. Communities of knowledge -- Poison and the patriarchy -- What Renaissance women knew -- How to be a Renaissance woman : the recipes. |
Search for related items by subject
| Subject: | Aesthetics. Beauty culture > Europe > History > 16th century. Cosmetics > Europe > History > 16th century. Renaissance. Sex role. Women > Europe > Social life and customs > 16th century. |
Available copies
- 1 of 1 copy available at Tsuga Consortium.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeshore Branch | 391.6309409031 Bur | 31681010356780 | NONFIC | Available | - |
- Baker & Taylor
This alternative history of the Renaissance as told through the emerging literature of beauty focuses on the actresses, authors and courtesans who fought the eraâs misogyny and explains how their efforts are still relevant today. Illustrations. - Simon and Schuster
An alternative history of the Renaissanceâas seen through the emerging literature of beauty tipsâfocusing on the actresses, authors, and courtesans who rebelled against the misogyny of their era.
Beauty, make-up, art, power: How to Be a Renaissance Woman presents an alternative history of this fascinating period as told by the women behind the paintings, providing a window into their often overlooked or silenced lives.
Can the pressures women feel to look good be traced back to the sixteenth century?
As the Renaissance visual world became populated by female nudes from the likes of Michelangelo and Titian, a vibrant literary scene of beauty tips emerged, fueling debates about cosmetics and adornment. Telling the stories of courtesans, artists, actresses, and writers rebelling against the strictures of their time, when burgeoning colonialism gave rise to increasingly sinister evaluations of bodies and skin color, this book puts beauty culture into the frame.
How to Be a Renaissance Woman will take readers from bustling Italian market squares, the places where the poorest women and immigrant communities influenced cosmetic products and practices, to the highest echelons of Renaissance society, where beauty could be a powerful weapon in securing strategic marriages and family alliances. It will investigate how skin-whitening practices shifted in step with the emerging sub-Saharan African slave trade, how fads for fattening and thinning diets came and went, and how hairstyles and fashion could be a tool for dissent and rebellionâthen as now. This surprising and illuminating narrative will make you question your ideas about your own body, and ask: Why are women often so critical of their appearance? What do we stand to lose, but also to gain, from beauty culture? What is the relationship between looks and power?
