It's funny what catches your eye, isn't it? Out of a massive houseful of stuff ranging from silverware to stuffed birds, it was this quite small painting that made quite a big impression.
It's St Christina of Bolensa, painted by Carlo Dulci in c1650-55. It's 11.25 inces in diameter, oil on panel and absolutely beautiful. Even taking into account the rather bizarre and gruesome subject matter.
I wonder, did the people of so long ago have perfect skin, hair and teeth? Or did the painters do a bit of oiloshopping? Literally glossing over imperfections. We know they did it for big wigs like Elizabeth I and Henry VII, but average people? I suspect if you were paying you could make certain requests...
And saints should be perfect anyway. But I'd like to know what people really looked like, what Beautiful looked like before photography and mass media.
