Portraits and Poses: Female Intellectual Authority, Agency and Authorship in Early Modern Europe

The book "Portraits and Poses" explores how early modern female intellectuals constructed their authority in Europe during the 1600-1800 period. It adopts an interdisciplinary and cross-cultural approach, examining case studies from France, Italy, Britain, the German states, and the Low Countries. The volume contributes to the growing literature on women and intellectual authority in the Early Modern Era and outlines contours for future research.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 28 April 2022
Publisher: Leuven University Press

The intricate interplay between gender and the portrayal of intellectual authority has a rich historical foundation in Europe. Portraits and Poses takes a historical perspective to explore this pressing issue in greater detail. It delves into diverse modes and strategies employed by learned women, including authors, scientists, jurists, midwives, painters, and others, as they navigated the emergence of modern science in Early Modern and Enlightenment Europe (1600–1800). This volume examines the transnational networks of intellectual exchange in France, Italy, Britain, the German states, and the Low Countries, among other regions. By drawing on a diverse array of case studies from various professional domains, it scrutinizes both individual and collective constructions of female intellectual authority through word and image. Through its innovative blend of interdisciplinary and transnational approaches, this volume makes a significant contribution to the expanding body of literature on women and intellectual authority in the Early Modern Era. It also provides valuable insights into future research directions in this field.

Contributors:
Laura Beck Varela, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Feike Dietz, Utrecht University
Armel Dubois-Nayt, University of Versailles-Saint-Quentin/Paris-Saclay
Nina Geerdink, Utrecht University
Aurélie Griffin, Université Sorbonne Nouvelle
Seren Nolan, Durham University
Caroline Paganussi, Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte Naples
Marie-Emmanuelle Plagnol-Diéval, Université Paris-Est Créteil
Kelsey Rubin-Detlev, University of Southern California
Belinda Scerri, University of Melbourne
Catriona Seth, University of Oxford
Lien Verpoest, KU Leuven
Vera Viehöver, Université de Liège
Rotraud vo.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789462703308