This fully illustrated text examines women in the Victorian art world, in relation to femininity and the feminist movement. Academics, including Deborah Cherry, Pam Hirsch and Jan Marsh examine issues of gender, class and national identity through their analysis of the practice and represenation of women during the 19th century. Topics covered include painting, architecture, art education, collecting, art criticism and the leading feminist and artist, Barbara Bodichon. In addition to bringing together a wide range of topics and issues, this book also offers revisions of current historical debates on the division between the female, private sphere and the male, public sphere. It re-examines the question of the lady amateur watercolourist, while also exploring the ways in which women negotiated their ambitions for public recognition.