I've lost nearly 80 pounds. Yeah right, yea me, woo-hoo. In our era, that's a good thing. But if I lived in Ancient Rome or Greece, I'd be outcast as a model. They'd be like, "meh, too skeeny." And if I, who still need to shed 30-40 pounds wouldn't pass muster, thinner ones would be on the unemployment line for sure. "Too leetle"--the painter would say "eez tweeg. She no beeg enough to hold vase. She gonna snap, like so."
And the German's were even more fussy about having their girls plush and padded. Look at Rubens' Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus! Those aren't dainty little maids. They look like they could curb stomp their attackers if they wanted. If they wanted. The artists of old would have preferred me in my former avoir du pois splendor. Let's consider the concept of "fat" in classical sculptures and neo-classical paintings. Plus-Size? The Greco-Roman Word For it Was Sexy