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Why Do Babies In Medieval Art Look Like Creepy Adults?

Infants in medieval art all have one thing in common: They don't look like babies. Instead, they resemble miniature versions of middle-aged men, sometimes complete with receding hairlines and ripped muscles. Depictions of weird, prematurely aged babies appeared throughout the medieval era and into the Renaissance when the trend (thankfully) started to fade away. The Renaissance, in particular, may have spawned some of the best paintings of all time, but what's up with all those ugly babies in old paintings?

English
  • Originally Aired September 18, 2020
  • Runtime 11 minutes
  • Created July 7, 2023 by
    josh42
  • Modified July 7, 2023 by
    josh42