Muse about painting being returned (4)
I believe the answer is:
clio
'muse' is the definition.
(muse of history in Greek myth)
'about painting being returned' is the wordplay.
'about' becomes 'c' (abbreviation for circa).
'painting' becomes 'oil' (oil painting is a kind of painting).
'being returned' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'oil' reversed gives 'lio'.
'c'+'lio'='CLIO'
(Other definitions for clio that I've seen before include "one of nine sisters" , "In Greek and Roman myth, the Muse of history" , "Muse of history - car" , "inspiration for historians" , "1 across's Muse - from Renault?" .)