No abstract

Art criticism as a profession expanded dramatically in the Victorian period. Yet, while the names most recognized today are those of male critics, women were also important contributors to the field. Despite facing challenges such as a lack of formal education and prejudice against women's critical talents, women such as Anna Jameson (1794-1860), Elizabeth Eastlake (1809-1893), Alice Meynell (1847-1922), and Julia Cartwright (1851-1924) were able to carve out successful careers as authorities on art. Moreover, they were influential figures who were instrumental in shaping the field. Women wrote about art in a wide variety of forms, including articles and exhibition reviews for newspapers and periodicals; guidebooks for galleries; and monographs.