"Taking" the image of the monarchy--risky!
Posted by ElaineL on September 15, 1998 at 09:40:21:
In response to Ideal weight, written by Constanza on September 14, 1998 at 12:31:22
] Does anybody know what was the ideal of beauty as regards weigth during the regency?
] In "Our Tempestous Days" Princess Charlotte is described as "fat". Now, I don't think she was so, according to the pictures I've seen of her...
I saw pictures of the Prince Regent, I think in the same book you reference, and he was tall, trim and fairly dashing. It was clearly a commisioned portrait. However, in another book the image of a short, fat and slovenly gentleman was also labeled as that of the Prince. This drawing was decidely not a commisioned taking of his image. Was the discrepency due to the passage of time? Or the freedom of the latter artist to render the Prince more true-to-life? Perhaps the real image is to be found in between, but my sense from the one author is that the less complimentary picture was the more accurate rendering.
Princess C. was described as wearing gowns not at all flattering to her size because they fit too closely and her anatomy hung out most inappropriately. I have a feeling she would have been rendered more graciously than she actually appeared.
Humbly submitted, Elaine
- The Royal Image SuzanneR 11:25:13 9/15/98
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