Howewer many people described her as a perfect statue with classic features and said she had a splendid face even when she was old. I think that Eugénie for her contemporaries wasn't lovely, but reallyl beautiful. Looking her photos, I see a splendid woman with an ancient beauty: an important and chiseled nose, melancholy eyes, beautiful shoulders, hands and feet (details very important in the past). And how we know by descriptions, she has beautiful and white teeth and she was extremely graceful (her bows were unforgettable: do you remember someone?). In my opinion Eugénie was the last icon of the imperial idea of beauty: she had many features in common with Marie-Antoinette, Mary Queen of Scots etc... and Sisi was the first icon of the new idea of beauty.
We cannot exclude the possibility that she was not photogenic: I really know a lot of beautiful girls (or boys) that in photos are just nice!
Really *§Yue§* you said exactly what I wanted to say. Eugénie was not lovely or pretty if what we call pretty is Kate Moss ou Kim Kardashian or Angelina Jolie or I don't know who in this type...
Eugénie had an antique beauty, like a greek or roman bust, stately and statuesque, which was (and is still in my opinion) the true beauty a sovereign must have.
The most fascinating women are often in this case. Not really pretty, ok. But more : bewitching...
As you said it, Marie-Antoinette, Mary Stuart were not "lovely" either.
Grand-duchess Ella or Queen Margherita of Italy were not pretty either.
Lady Diana was not pretty either, with her big nose and her irregular features.
And yet...!
