Clara Erskine Clement Waters
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D.
"WOMEN IN THE FINE ARTS FROM THE SEVENTH CENTURY B.C. TO THE TWENTIETH CENTURY" by Clara Erskine Clement is a historical account written in the early 20th century. The book surveys the contributions of women artists throughout history, spanning over two millennia and across multiple cultures. It aims to highlight women's roles and achievements in the fine arts, pointing out that many artists have been overlooked or forgotten despite their significant contributions. The opening of the book introduces the author's mission to gather information about women artists by reaching out to them directly, thus establishing a foundation of credibility and thoroughness for her work. Clement mentions that over a thousand women artists have been identified for this study, sharing intriguing fragments of history, such as those of ancient Greek and Roman women artist names and highlighting the cultural shifts that impacted their careers. It also critiques the lack of recorded contributions from women in the arts before the Renaissance, outlining the challenges they faced throughout different eras while paving the way for future generations of female artists. The opening sets the stage for a deeper exploration of women's artistic heritage in the following chapters.