Sometimes the medieval texts I read really makes me both puzzled and amused. Take this quote of the Belgian monk and theologian Philip of Harveng (d. 1183) regarding God's choice of the Virgin Mary:

"Indeed, it is not believable that God, the Son of God, should choose a mother who was swarthy, one-eyed, conspicuously scrofulous or hunch-backed, instead of having a white face, rosy-colored, with pretty eyes and a beautiful, completely formed body, so that she who was chosen over all other women for such a dignified role should be, not only free from the infection of every vice, but also more beautiful and perfect in her physical appearance than anybody else."

The quote is taken from an anthology with texts of medieval theologians titled Mary in the Middle Ages, ed. Luigi Gambero, 2005 (pp.182-183), and in a footnote the editor comments: "In those days the known world was limited, and the standards of feminine beauty, understandably, reflected European models." Dear me, I am not sure that was less weird — and also patronizing. But the concept of ideal beauty and pureness, and equally its opposite ugliness and sin, are fascinating and not always as easy to detect visually as one could expect. Most Madonnas are stereotypically blond, light skinned, blue eyed and young, but more interesting models can be found. One of my personal favorites are the twelfth century madonna above from Mosjö, Närke (now in the Swedish History Museum collection). But is it really depicting an ugly woman? Perhaps it expresses sadness and grief over the Son's future suffering? Or, why not, a beauty?