  The HST/ACS images of GOODS-South have been used to select a sample of
early-type galaxies, based on morphology and on the Kormendy relation. The
classification scheme does not use galaxy colours, hence it does not bias
against young stellar populations. The 249 galaxies (i_AB<24) paint a complex
formation picture. Their stellar populations show gradients which readily rule
out a large range of ages among and within galaxies. On the other hand, there
is a decrease in the comoving number density, which suggests a strong bias when
comparing local and distant early-type galaxies. This bias can be caused either
by a significant fraction of non early-type progenitors or by a selection
effect (e.g. dust-enshrouded progenitors). The deep images of the UDF were used
to determine the structural properties of some of these galaxies. Regarding the
distribution of disky/boxy isophotes, we do not find large differences with
respect to local systems. However, some early-types with the standard features
of a red and dead galaxy reveal interesting residuals, possible signatures of
past merging events.
