Glasses with tinted lens aren't as modern as I thought they were. One historical gift shop sells replicas of spectacles American President Thomas Jefferson wore, putting their timeframe in the early 1800’s.
Jefferson also had an interest in what was then called double spectacles—or bifocals. Not all these were as fashionable as his shades. For instance, Joshua Reynolds’ self-portrait shows him wearing glasses that don’t seem to align with the ears but go above them and spread out. Doesn’t look comfortable, but is possibly a better option than wearing one pair of glasses, and having another pair propped on the head, as American president Andrew Jackson is depicted as doing.
Next time I grumble about the cost of my specs, I’ll try to consider it a luxury to have them. At one time in history, the option for reading once the vision started to fade would have been a magnifying glass, and even that could have been comparatively more costly than a modern pair of glasses.
Jefferson also had an interest in what was then called double spectacles—or bifocals. Not all these were as fashionable as his shades. For instance, Joshua Reynolds’ self-portrait shows him wearing glasses that don’t seem to align with the ears but go above them and spread out. Doesn’t look comfortable, but is possibly a better option than wearing one pair of glasses, and having another pair propped on the head, as American president Andrew Jackson is depicted as doing.
Next time I grumble about the cost of my specs, I’ll try to consider it a luxury to have them. At one time in history, the option for reading once the vision started to fade would have been a magnifying glass, and even that could have been comparatively more costly than a modern pair of glasses.
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