How to be a Renaissance Woman

Lively and intriguing ... you'll never look at Renaissance portraits in the same way.

Plunge into the intimate history of cosmetics and discover how, for centuries, women have turned to makeup as a rich source of creativity, community, and resistance.

The Renaissance was an era obsessed with appearances, and beauty culture from that time has left traces that give us a window into an overlooked realm of history, revealing everything from sixteenth-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 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 of 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.