Museum of Femininity

In this new series The Museum of Femininity will cover the history of Male Impersonators by focusing on the lives of some of the most iconic performers in this genre. 
Today, we look at the life of Annie Hindle, British born she lit up the stages of America with her witty comedy and deep alto voice, as well as the mesmerising realism of her male impersonation. She was so convincing she even married multiple women under a male alias and looking back from a modern perspective was a true trail blazer in her field and a key figure in queer history.

Visual references
Instagram @themuseumoffemininity

Sources
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=rbd_11y-mXQC&pg=PA105&dq=male+impersonators&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjTrZKfyuXoAhW0qHEKHYClCh0Q6AEIRDAE#v=onepage&q=male%20impersonators&f=false
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=8mitDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA84&lpg=PA84&dq=Blanche+Du+Vere&source=bl&ots=qCCDiQZDOp&sig=ACfU3U1q2C6lI4u6hahNimP7MEZPnIdp3g&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiZ9Lv59OXoAhWHT8AKHWaFBz4Q6AEwAXoECAsQKw#v=onepage&q=Blanche%20Du%20Vere&f=false
https://www.whatitmeanstobeamerican.org/identities/the-wondrous-life-of-americas-first-male-impersonator/
https://dragkinghistory.com/
https://www.findagrave.com/

Episode 21

During this time of social isolation what better way to distract ourselves than by escaping into the lively world of Regency England.
In this episode I explore the culture of the Assembly Rooms through the eyes of a wealthy young lady. Expect details on music and dance, fashion and rules of social etiquette as well as a brief history of the Bath Assembly Rooms.

https://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/the-ball-in-the-novels-of-jane-austen
Walks through Bath describing everything Worth of Interest, 1819
https://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/the-ball-in-the-novels-of-jane-austen#
Mirror of the Graces, 1811
https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/the-mirror-of-the-graces-fashion-and-beauty-manual#
A wonderful blog
https://www.regencyhistory.net/2012/03/balls-at-upper-assembly-rooms-bath.html

For visual references please follow us on Instagram @themuseumoffemininty

Episode 20: Leonora Carrington

To celebrate Women's History Month this March The Museum of Femininity has dedicated all episodes to the lives and works of female artists.
This episode will explore Leonora Carrington, who had a fascinating life story. Born into wealth in the English upperclasses, she defied the expectations of her gender and class and rebelliously took up the life of a bohemian artist. She was the beautiful dark muse and lover of Surrealist Max Ernst, suffered and overcame terrible mental illness and mistreatment in an experimental asylum, escaped war torn Europe for Mexico, where she became engrossed in the culture and landscape. In Mexico, she married started a family and developed her work further. As a result her reputation flourished as she was fully embraced by her new country. 
Her work was symbolic, atmospheric and filled with magic and mystery, as well as drawing on folklore, fairy tales and mythology, much of it was deeply autobiographical which makes analysing and interpreting her paintings a truly insightful exercise. 

The Surreal Life of Leonora Carrington by Joanna Moorhead
Leonora Carrington - Britain's Lost Surrealist, TateShots
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqXePrSE1R0
Leonora Carrington - The Lost Surrealist, BBC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxEF1bjgt5Q
Tate Biography 
https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/leonora-carrington-7615

Episode 19
In celebration of Women's History Month The Museum of Femininity will be exploring the lives of female artists in history.
Today we meet Mary Edmonia Lewis a 19th century sculptor who spent the majority of her career in Rome. She was able to overcome the obstacles of her gender and race to forge a highly successful career, creating commissions that ranged from African American imagery, mythology, Biblical scenes and portrait busts, which she often sold for thousands of dollars.

https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/edmonia-lewis-smithsonian-american-art-museum/gQJi3NKm3VagLg?hl=en
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Edmonia-Lewis
https://americanart.si.edu/artist/edmonia-lewis-2914

Episode 18
I this mini episode Charlotte Appleyard discusses the lives of Vestal Virgin's, priestesses who enjoyed a semi - divine status and privileges unknown to most women, but were also bound to live 30 years of celibacy and forced to serve in the temple performing rites and maintaining the sacred flame. If the flame was ever extinguished these women would face a fatal punishment.

For visual sources follow us on instagram @themuseumoffemininty

Resources

https://research.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=465546&partId=1
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/magazine/2018/11-12/vestal-virgins-of-ancient-rome/
https://www.ancient.eu/Vesta/

#romanhistory #vestalvirgins #thehistoryofrome #womeninrome #romanwomen #priestesses #britishmuseum #historyofart #arthistory #artpodcast #historypodcast

In this episode we explore artistic depictions of motherhood post 1970's through the lense of the Feminist Movement. Expect candid discussions surrounding the body and the changing identity of women after they become mothers.

Follow us on Instagram for visual references! 
@themuseumoffemininity

https://www.marykellyartist.com/post_partum_document.html
https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/kelly-post-partum-document-documentation-iii-analysed-markings-and-diary-perspective-t03925

Episode 15: The Gibson Girl

In this episode Charlotte Appleyard explores the history of the iconic Gibson Girl. Born from newspaper print this illustration of Edwardian feminine beauty became a huge sensation and the symbol of the new American woman.
This episode will cover the lives of some of the most famous models for the Gibson Girl, her characteristics and appeal as well as the question of whether or not she is a feminist image. We also investigate the creator Charles Dana Gibson's motivations behind his most famous work.

Sources
https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/117731/Palso.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
https://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Gibson_Irene_Langhorne_1873-1956
https://www.academia.edu/10003833/Troubled_Abstraction_Whiteness_in_Charles_Dana_Gibson_and_George_Du_Maurier

instagram @themuseumoffemininity 

Charlotte Appleyard is joined by her friend and fellow Art Historian Harriet Bullough who is a new mother. 

This episode will explore themes of childbirth, breastfeeding and single parenthood from the perspective of the 18th and 19th century and compared to modern day experiences. 

As well as historic examples such as the story of the Foundling Hospital, the romantic depiction of motherhood in art is analysed through the work of American Impressionist Mary Cassatt. In addition, this episode delves further into the narrative of the fallen women and issues of double standards particularly with unwed mothers and those of a lower class.

For reference images please follow us on Instagram @themuseumoffemininity

Sources

https://foundlingmuseum.org.uk/about/our-history/

https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-mary-cassatt-painted-domestic-life-way-male-impressionists

Images of Modern Motherhood in the Art of Morisot, Cassatt, Modersohn-Becker, Kollwitz Stewart Buettner, Woman's Art Journal, Vol. 7, No. 2 (Autumn, 1986 - Winter, 1987), pp. 14-21

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25629934

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2684040/

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jun/20/is-breast-really-best-i-looked-at-all-the-data-to-find-out

In this new mini festive episode Charlotte Appleyard will be discussing Victorian Christmas's and the popularisation of the Christmas tree and traditional Christmas dinner.
In particular we will cover the Christmas's of Queen Victoria and her family including enthusiastic decorating, exhilarating sleigh rides and sumptuous feasts!

For all images related to this episode please follow us on Instagram @themuseumoffemininity

Sources
http://www.bbc.co.uk/victorianchristmas/history.shtml
http://blog.english-heritage.org.uk/how-did-queen-victoria-and-prince-albert-popularise-christmas/

Episode 12 of the Museum of Femininity Podcast and Part 3 in our Pre Raphaelite Sisters series.

In this episode I explore the life of Maria Zambaco, a wonderful artist who made gorgeous art medals as well as painted. She was of Greek Origin and unlike both of the women in this series was wealthy, previously married and had children. 
She was the lover and muse of Edward Burne Jones who painted her obsessively and very nearly ran away with Maria, which ended in scandal and tragedy. However, Maria was no victim and was able to rise above her failed relationship with Burne Jones to live a full and happy life under her own terms.

I am so sorry for the multitude of ways I pronounce 'Maria' and hope it is not too distracting!

Source Material

The Last Pre Raphaelite by Fiona McCarthy
Pre Raphaelite Sisters by Jan Marsh
The Blog 'Behind Every Man' 

For photo sources please follow us on Instagram @themuseumoffemininity