ABSTRACT
Beauty was one of the chief barometers of quality at court – an attractive physical appearance was not simply a value in itself but manifested social status, moral virtue and bodily health. This chapter provides an overview of the general perimeters of beauty at the early modern court, covering the principles, portrayal and practices of beauty. Although there was some regional variation, these ideals and practices enjoyed many points of continuity across court centres. The focus here will be on female beauty as defined, displayed and practised at court from 1500 to 1700, a time in which women were considered the natural manifestation of physical beauty in court circles and were closely associated with beautifying treatments and rituals.
