Hansplaining: But Why Do Those Renaissance Babies Look Like That?
In our second Hansplaining episode, Hannah answers a question she's been routinely asked by her friends, colleagues, and students: why do babies in medieval and renaissance era art never look like babies and always look like little men who are about to flee the country for tax evasion?
We did not discuss the paintings below in our episode but we include them for your enjoyment. The babies are varying degrees of unattractive.*
*All babies are blessings.
Reading List:
Why Babies in Medieval Paintings Look Like Ugly Old Men, by Phil Edwards
Smarthistory, Distorting the Madonna in Medieval Art
Smarthistory, Cimabue, Virgin and Child Enthroned, and Prophets
Ugly Renaissance Babies tumblr
If you enjoy this look at Renaissance art, you may also enjoy the podcast Rebuilding the Renaissance