Best-looking man before 1920.

[maninsoma]

I agree. And the only clues that these aren't guys from more recent history are the bathing suits and the quality of the photograph.

 

Belted bathing-suit boy (2nd from right) gets my vote. YUM.

T

[maninsoma]

What a cutie he was. I especially liked the first photo.

 

Albert Ball, English fighter pilot and Great Britain's leading flying ace during WWI.

 

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Ball

[Will Do]

Oops, doesn't fit the thread parameters...................who cares!!!

 

http://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ly5tj10fKJ1qgrhvfo1_1280.jpg

[+ FreshFluff]

Unknown Britisher, handsome in a fine-featured way.

 

http://24.media.tumblr.com/c3b43f9982d007aeb68598097d9ca9a8/tumblr_mh25l74vHl1qeu6ilo1_250.jpg

 

http://fuckyeahhistorycrushes.tumblr.com/page/37

 

I wonder if these paintings were meant to be realistic. I've never seen a guy who looks anything like this in real life, even forgetting about the hair.

[+ friendofsheila]

I wonder if these paintings were meant to be realistic. I've never seen a guy who looks anything like this in real life, even forgetting about the hair.

 

Oh, I have, just not many.

 

But I'll also support your idea by saying that portraits are often done to flatter the subject.

[+ beethoven]

Glad you chose Lewis Powell (or Paine), one of the Lincoln conspirators. Despicable man, but OH, SO HOT!!

[AdamSmith]

I wonder if these paintings were meant to be realistic. I've never seen a guy who looks anything like this in real life, even forgetting about the hair.

 

There is coming to be a good bit of scholarship on this disjunction. A recent Guardian glance at the topic: http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2013/feb/13/elizabeth-first-portrait-face-age-unhappiness

[+ FreshFluff]

How about someone born well before 1920? I included WW1 and WW2-era photos. He was something of a bigot, btw.

 

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00656/news-graphics-2008-_656610a.jpg

http://www.pbs.org/behindcloseddoors/tmp_assets/eden-bio.png

[+ friendofsheila]

How about someone born well before 1920? I included WW1 and WW2-era photos. He was something of a bigot, btw.

 

I set the date there so that a too-easy category would be eliminated: all those silent-movie men.

 

I wanted people to reach back into history, into areas we don't generally think about.

 

Otherwise we'd be swimming in Rod LaRoques (what a name!), Ramon Novarros and Valentinos.

[+ friendofsheila]

Guys, if you going to go, GO BIG!

 

Alexander the Great: http://www.petersommer.com/gallery/alexander-the-great-statue-photo/

 

That's true. And whoever modeled for Michelangelo's David certainly qualifies:

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3440/3318123119_05146f34e9.jpg

[+ friendofsheila]

Harold Lloyd in 1919.

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sz2XC3n_Z6s/T38W4kLJQLI/AAAAAAAAXwk/3GqhwJXoKhw/s320/HaroldLloyd%2B6.jpg

 

from: http://onlyartimages.blogspot.com/2012/04/harold-lloyd.html

[+ BOZO T CLOWN]

http://famousauthorquotes.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/keyword-image-benjamin-franklin.jpg?w=218&h=355

 

As a teen, Bozo used to get aroused opening up the history books, and viewing photos of Ben Franklin. I think he was a major player during colonial times. Now as an adult, I get titillated every time I look at a $100 bill.

 

Bozo