She Might Be Online Plus Size Community

Plus Size Women Throughout History: Women in the Renaissance

Updated for March 2026

Key Takeaways: Plus Size Women in Art History

• The Ideal Aesthetic:During the Renaissance, a fuller figure was the height of fashion, representing health, wealth, and fertility.

• Renaissance Fat Beauty: Having a heavier body type proved that you had enough money to eat well and did not have to perform manual labour.

• The Masters of Curve: Artists like Titian and Rubens celebrated fat women in art as the pinnacle of human beauty.

• Famous Fat Lady Paintings: Works like the Mona Lisa and Titian’s nudes remain some of the most famous examples of curvy women in art history.

The Renaissance period is all about beauty and authenticity. I am sure it would not surprise you if I told you that before the likes of Slimming World, larger women were deemed sexy. There was a sensual attribute to curvy bodies (which I intend to uphold with my own body).

Throughout my series, Plus Size Women Throughout History, I have covered different eras where fat women have been both cherished and frowned upon. It seemed obvious to me to cover a time where they were glorified. There is one era I know did this perfectly well and it is indeed my favourite movement. Enter the Renaissance.

The Renaissance Body Type: Powerful and Beautiful

In the Renaissance period these fuller figured women were deemed both powerful and beautiful. You only have to google Renaissance Art and boom there they are, fuller figured beauties. Go on do it. You will find Mona Lisa (the broad shouldered thick skinned wonder), Titian’s gorgeous laid out nudes and other famous works.

When looking at plus size women throughout history, the Renaissance stands out because it was deemed fashionable to be on the heavier side. Firstly, it showed you had a bit in your pocket. I covered this in the Venus of Willendorf and the preconception still stands in this era. OH and of course, some believed that fuller figured women had key signs of fertility (larger breasts and bigger hips) and this meant they were in high demand when men were hunting for a bride. This is again another topic that gets carried through in different eras of art and something I am sure I will touch upon again.

The Renaissance saw the popularity and fashion that came with being on the chubbier side. In fact, some saw that being skinny was unattractive.

Titian and the Nude Art Form

Titian, the stud of the Renaissance, saw a beauty and purity in the nude art form. Some of his works were deemed too beautiful for public appearance and were therefore kept in hidden quarters (check out the Venus of Urbino).

Looking at Titian’s Woman in a Mirror we meet a chunky gal prepping herself for a rad night out. What is most noticeable is the curves of the woman’s figured and the shape she creates within the frame. Her face echoes the roundness of the mirror and this a harmonious classical layout.

Rubens and the History of Curvy Women

It is likely this piece later inspired Rubens to paint Venus Before a Mirror, another piece which better represents artists harking back to the Renaissance. In this case, Rubens has shown a girl with stunning love handles and rosy cheeks. I mean her face, of course.

So looking at the term Renaissance, we can begin to understand why this fatshion came about. The term Renaissance actually translates as Rebirth, a time to reflect on the pure art form and true beauty of the human body. Looking at classical sculpture, women are often curvaceous and dreamy. There are of course, as with everything, varying portrayals of body types and this is a good thing. All body types should be represented.

The paintings we can view to understand the Renaissance act as fashion magazines for us. A key trend in these is nude large women. Now isn’t that reassuring?

 

Titian, Women in a Mirror, 1512-1515 Image Courtesy of the Louvre.

Rubens, Woman Before a Mirror, 1613-14 Image Courtesy of Liechtenstein Museum.

FAQ: Plus Size Women Throughout History

What was the ideal renaissance woman body? The ideal body type featured a soft, rounded stomach, full hips, and pale skin. These traits were celebrated as signs of health and high social standing, making fat women in paintings the ultimate fashion statement.

Who is the most famous fat lady in paintings? While many think of the Mona Lisa, Peter Paul Rubens is the artist most famous for his renaissance paintings of women’s bodies. He celebrated the fuller form so much that the term Rubenesque is still used in 2026 to describe beautiful, curvy women.

Were fat women in art history considered more fertile? Yes. In the Renaissance, fat women in Renaissance art were often depicted as goddesses or mothers because their bodies suggested they were well nourished and capable of bearing healthy children.

Where can I see more plus size women throughout history? You can check out my other posts in the Plus Size Women Throughout History category to see how our bodies have been viewed from ancient times to the modern day.