Although not strictly 'sculpture' here is an example of Angélique Marguerite du Courdray's (1712-1790) mannequin that she used to teach midwifes and surgeons. Made from cotton and silk taffeta, about 36 x 24 cm. Du Courdray was a contemporary of wax modeller Marie Bihéron.

I'm spending my weekend editing my dictionary of women sculptors (1660-1837). Currently tallying 229 women... that's more than you think! Today's shout-out goes to the French women sculptors: Julie Poncet, Clemence Sophie de Sermézy, Julie Charpentier, and Madeleine-Anne Deseine.

Having to justify again Ann Damer was not the only professional woman sculptor in Britain in 18th/early 19thC, yes there were wax modellers but also a group of women stonemasons earning a living from their work e.g. Sarah Holmes of Brentford. Surviving work in St. Mary's Ealing.

Wax modellers created portraits so exact that C18th critics believed they lacked the intellect of real artists. Fine, they said, we'll fashion ourselves as 'copyists' instead. Before photogrpahy wax portraiture was hugely entertaining, and highly lucrative for women!

Traditional art historians and historic artists (ahem Joshua Reynolds!) have spoken about their disgust for wax modelling and how it sits in a whole different realm to ‘fine art’ sculpture. I ask them, can you even tell the difference between this sculpting studio and any other?

With exhibitions on women artists opening this summer, is it time to re-think the use of words like 'hidden', obstacles' and 'amateur' to name a few? Women wax modellers were professionalised from at least the C17th and are well documented... not hidden, just underappreciated!

Presenting with this amazing group of women yesterday was such a pleasure. Everyone is doing great work on women sculptors <1900, I really feel the momentum! Marjan Sterckx, me, Joy Cador, Nicoli Braga Macêdo & Laura Chase from @V_and_A #ForArtHistory2024 @forarthistory

Very excited that @forarthistory 2024 conference is right around the corner. Please come and hear all about women sculptors on 4 April - Thursday morning.

Just realised that Tate Britain's 'Now You See Us' exhibition on women artists opens on my Birthday... Coincidence? I think not! Thanks for the present @Tate tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-br…

An unbelievable amount of women were waxwork proprietors between the 17th and 19th centuries. Yet, almost none of their waxworks survive! Playbills, tickets and advertisements are some of the only evidence they existed, like this one for Mrs Anghela De Hojos (1830)@bodleianlibs

It was such a pleasure presenting today at the annual @BSECS conference on women wax modellers. We even had some real life examples for the audience to enjoy!

This is fantastic news!!!

Women wax modellers are known from antiquity to today, yet so few of their names are recognised by the public (and dare I say historians.) Ethel Frances Mundy (1876-1964) revived the Renaissance style wax portrait in America, working with a chemist to develop the best wax recipe!

Find me as part of session 1 on 3rd Jan presenting on women wax modellers and questioning our definition of them as amateurs vs professionals. Can't wait.