John Tyler, Babe Magnet

Have you noticed that virtually all 19th Century women look like dessicated prunes or bags of dough? While preparing my last post, I happened to take a look at the portraits of President John Tyler's two wives. I think he had an eye for the babes. Wife no. 1 looks a little severe, but it's probably just the formal pose, and there is a hint of a sultry pout. Wife no. 2 has sort of a weird thing going on with her neck, but I'm guessing that's some Mannerist-type affectation of the artist. Anyway, she was thirty years younger than President Tyler was (24 vs. 54 when they were married), so he was doing OK.