Ladies' manual of art; or, profit and pastime. A self teacher in all branches of decorative art, embracing every variety of painting and drawing on china, glass, velvet, canvas, paper and wood the secret of all glass transparencies, sketching from nature. pastel and crayon drawing, taxidermy, etc.

"Ladies' Manual of Art; or, Profit and Pastime" by Anonymous is a 19th-century instructional book designed as a self-teaching guide to various decorative arts. Aimed at women, it focuses on cultivating artistic skills for both personal enjoyment and potential income. The manual covers a wide range of topics such as painting on china, glass, and other materials, sketching from nature, pastel drawing, and even taxidermy. The manual begins by explaining the basic principles of art and encouraging women’s artistic expression, it outlines a structured yet accessible way for readers to grow practical skills for personal pleasure as well as financial gain, and introduces drawing and sketching from nature, with critical concepts to help the novice artist.