In the 18th century, why did faces in paintings all look similar?

Question

I know the painters tried to minimize flaws. But that does not explain why the subjects' eyes looked glazed or puffy, or why different paintings of the same subject often looked markedly different. For example, if you look at all the paintings of Marie Antoinette, you will see that most of them look like paintings of completely different people.

How is it that the painters could accurately capture the appearance of fabrics, furniture, buildings, etc., yet had so much trouble accurately recreating faces?

Answer 1

While there are differences due to age of the subject in various paintings, and stylistic differences, most of the artists of the 18th century were highly accomplished (particularly when working for the Queen of France) and probably did a good job of capturing a likeness.

I rarely have trouble recognizing the subjects of the paintings, once I am used to them (the subjects, not the individual paintings). While it is true that there was a tendency to flatter the sitter, particularly if that person was wealthy or powerful, unless the portrait was recognizably the person it is unlikely that anyone would have thought much of the artist.

Answer 2

The same reason models in magizines all look the same today. When rich and important people hire an artist to paint their portriat he might find himself in a lot of trouble if he makes them as ugly as they actually are. So all portriats conformed to the standard of beauty at the time (which may have changed between the two Marie Antionette paintings)

Answer 3

Charles Dickens became born contained in the nineteenth century so that you want to do an on-line seek for for Victorian Artists jointly with Dora Carrington, Rossetti, Byrne-Jones, William Morris etc.etc.

Answer 4

isn't your coment racist, , but centurywisse?