Changes

In even earlier times, even portraits were rare. Before the [[Renaissance]], painting techniques were often rudimentary or ineffective (so works did not last) and the techniques of artistic observation had not advanced to produce true likenesses, save in exceptional cases. Notice how representations of [[saint]]s, for example, are stylised so that the saints are often identified from the colors of their robes or by the objects they are carrying rather than their physical features.

In even earlier times, even portraits were rare. Before the [[Renaissance]], painting techniques were often rudimentary or ineffective (so works did not last) and the techniques of artistic observation had not advanced to produce true likenesses, save in exceptional cases. Notice how representations of [[saint]]s, for example, are stylised so that the saints are often identified from the colors of their robes or by the objects they are carrying rather than their physical features.

It seems, given the impossibility of knowing the true appearances one had not personally met, that physical appearance was far less important in earlier times than it is today. Notice that '''the [[Bible]] rarely describes people physically''', except where their physical attributes are important to the story, such as [[Goliath]]'s great size, [[Samson]]'s hair or [[Lazarus]]'s leprosy. For the most part, people are allowed to be depicted by their actions and their words, so that physical appearance is not considered. The authors of the Bible simply did not consider it at all important.

It seems, given the impossibility of knowing the true appearances one had not personally met, that physical appearance was far less important in earlier times than it is today. Notice that '''the [[Bible]] rarely describes people physically''', except where their physical attributes are important to the story, such as [[Goliath]]'s great size, [[Samson]]'s hair or [[Esau]]'s fur-covered skin. For the most part, people are allowed to be depicted by their actions and their words, so that physical appearance is not considered. The authors of the Bible simply did not consider it at all important.

[[Image:William_taft.jpg‎|right|thumb|190px|The distinguished but corpulent Taft. Would he have been elected in today's appearance-preoccupied world?]]

[[Image:William_taft.jpg‎|right|thumb|190px|The distinguished but corpulent Taft. Would he have been elected in today's appearance-preoccupied world?]]