Great Women Collectors Hardcover - 1999

From the rear cover

This is the first book to be devoted to the very few women who, from 1750 to the present, have assembled significant art collections. Although many women's dowries or private fortunes were used to fund a husband's collecting activity, a few individuals took an alternative route, resulting in collections quite distinct from those of their male counterparts. This book considers how and why these women collected, and explores the obstacles they overcame to bring together the objects. It examines closely the characteristics of their collections, many of which can be seen today, sometimes in their entirety, in public museums and galleries.

In the introduction, the authors provide a general survey of the different collecting fields that appealed to women. The chapters look in detail at over thirty great women collectors, and explores how circumstance and environment affected their activities. Rather than presenting these women individually, they are grouped together according to common themes, such as 'Royal Consorts' or Twentieth-century Creators of Museums'. Accompanying illustrations portray the women, their houses and their collections.

From the jacket flap

This is the first book to be devoted to the very few women who, from 1750 to the present, have assembled significant art collections. Although many women's dowries or private fortunes were used to fund a husband's collecting activity, a few individuals took an alternative route, resulting in collections quite distinct from those of their male counterparts. This book considers how and why these women collected, and explores the obstacles they overcame to bring together the objects. It examines closely the characteristics of their collections, many of which can be seen today, sometimes in their entirety, in public museums and galleries.

In the introduction, the authors provide a general survey of the different collecting fields that appealed to women. The chapters look in detail at over thirty great women collectors, and explores how circumstance and environment affected their activities. Rather than presenting these women individually, they are grouped together according to common themes, such as 'Royal Consorts' or Twentieth-century Creators of Museums'. Accompanying illustrations portray the women, their houses and their collections.

Media reviews

Citations

• Booklist, 03/15/2000, Page 1309
• Library Journal, 02/15/2000, Page 157