This volume examines the ways in which works of art have achieved a position in the canon of Western art. Focusing on art and institutions in Britain and France from the 17th to the 19th century, the contributors explore the construction and evolution of canonical values.[...]

Women first appeared on the legitimate stage in England following the Restoration in 1660, heralding a major change in British theater. "The First Actresses: From Nell Gwyn to Sarah Siddons "explores the vibrant and sometimes controversial relationship between art, gender, and the English theater in[...]

'There's no place like home'; 'safe as houses'; 'home is where the heart is': ideas of the house and home are rich in cultural cliches and contradictory meanings. Playing at Home explores the different ways in which artists have engaged with this popular everyday theme - from 'broken homes' to hau[...]