Muse about painting from the east (4)
I believe the answer is:
clio
'muse' is the definition.
(Clio is an example)
'about painting from the east' is the wordplay.
'about' becomes 'c' (abbreviation for 'circa').
'painting' becomes 'oil' (oil painting is a kind of painting).
'from the east' says the letters should be written backwards.
'oil' backwards is 'lio'.
'c'+'lio'='CLIO'
(Other definitions for clio that I've seen before include "In Greek and Roman myth, the Muse of history" , "Muse of history - car" , "one of nine sisters" , "Muse of history (from Renault?)" , "One of the Muses" .)