1775-1817
[Sidenote: Tytler’s _Jane Austen and her Works_. *]
“In person Jane Austen seems to have borne considerable resemblance to
her two favourite heroines, Elizabeth Bennet and Emma Woodhouse. Jane,
too, was tall and slender, a brunette, with a rich colour,--altogether
‘the picture of health’ which Emma Woodhouse was said to be. In minor
points, Jane Austen had a well-formed though somewhat small nose and
mouth, round as well as rosy cheeks, bright hazel eyes, and brown hair
falling in natural curls about her face.”
[Sidenote: Leigh’s _Memoir of Jane Austen_. *]
“As my memoir has now reached the period when I saw a great deal of my
aunt, and was old enough to understand something of her value, I will
here attempt a description of her person, mind, and habits. In person
she was very attractive; her figure was rather tall and slender, her
step light and firm, and her whole appearance expressive of health and
animation. In complexion she was a clear brunette, with a rich colour;
she had full round cheeks, with mouth and nose small and well-formed,
bright hazel eyes, and brown hair forming natural curls close round her
face. If not so regularly handsome as her sister, yet her countenance
had a peculiar charm of its own to the eyes of most beholders. At the
time of which I am now writing, she never was seen, either morning
or evening, without a cap; I believe that she and her sister were
generally thought to have taken to the garb of middle age earlier than
their years or their looks required; and that, though remarkably neat
in their dress, as in all their ways, they were scarcely sufficiently
regardful of the fashionable, or the becoming.”--1809.
[Sidenote: Austen’s _Sense and Sensibility_.]
“Of personal attractions she possessed a considerable share; her
stature rather exceeded the middle height; her carriage and deportment
were quiet, but graceful; her features were separately good; their
assemblage produced an unrivalled expression of that cheerfulness,
sensibility, and benevolence which were her real characteristics; her
complexion was of the finest texture--it might with truth be said that
her eloquent blood spoke through her modest cheek; her voice was sweet;
she delivered herself with fluency and precision; indeed, she was
formed for elegant and rational society, excelling in conversation as
much as in composition.... The affectation of candour is not uncommon,
but she had no affectation.... She never uttered either a hasty, a
silly, or a severe expression. In short, her temper was as polished as
her wit; and no one could be often in her company without feeling a
strong desire of obtaining her friendship, and cherishing a desire of
having obtained it.”