The portrait of 'Grotesque Old Woman' (1513), painted by the Flemish Renaissance painter Quintin Massys, could have served as a model for Tenniel’s Duchess. The 'Ugly Duchess' on the painting is supposed to be Margarete Maultasch, a fourteenth-century duchess of Tyrol and princess of Carinthia. "Maultasch" (meaning ‘pocket-mouth’) was a name given to her because of the shape of her mouth. She had the reputation of being the ugliest woman in history.
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