The first precise description of a famous beautiful woman was
written by Niphus in the sixteenth century in his _De Pulchro et
Amore_, which is regarded as the first modern treatise on
aesthetics. The lady described is Joan of Aragon, the greatest
beauty of her time, whose portrait by Raphael (or more probably
Giulio Romano) is in the Louvre. Niphus, who was the philosopher
of the pontifical court and the friend of Leo X, thus describes
this princess, whom, as a physician, he had opportunities of
observing accurately: "She is of medium stature, straight, and
elegant, and possesses the grace which can only be imparted by an
assemblage of characteristics which are individually faultless.
She is neither fat nor bony, but succulent; her complexion is not
pale, but white tinged with rose; her long hair is golden; her
ears are small and in proportion with the size of her mouth. Her
brown eyebrows are semicircular, not too bushy, and the
individual hairs short. Her eyes are blue (_oaesius_), brighter
than stars, radiant with grace and gaiety beneath the dark-brown
eyelashes, which are well spaced and not too long.
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