The Scariest Babies in Renaissance Paintings

A face only a mother could love.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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The talent and skill still shines through years later in Old Master paintings, yet the Renaissance artists repeatedly did something that we balk at today—they painted children like miniaturized old men. This was probably due to the fact that the concept of childhood is a relatively recent trend in history, but in some 15th and 16th century works, it looks like the painter never laid eyes on a baby. 

This trend in creepy babies with tiny heads, wrinkly faces, and terrifying expressions spawned the Tumblr Ugly Renaissance Babies. From Madonna and Child paintings to scenes from Greek mythology, we've put together our own list of The Scariest Babies in Renaissance Paintings. Even a mother couldn't love some of these babies' faces.

Virgin and Child 1

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Madonna with Child

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Madonna with Child 1

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Madonna and Child 2

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Newborn Baby in a Crib

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Madonna and Child 1

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Madonna of the Pear

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The Madonna of Canon van der Paele

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Venus and Amor

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The Rest on the Flight into Egypt

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Virgin and Child with a Bunch of Grapes

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Virgin and Child

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The Christ Child and the Infant John the Baptist with a Lamb

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Madonna del Voto

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Arion Riding on a Dolphin

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Abduction of Ganymede

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A Mermaid Feeding Her Young

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The Legend of St. Stephen

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Madonna and Child

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Nature Forging a Baby

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