Anne Boleyn

Anne Boleyn, 1st Marchioness of Pembroke (c.1507 – May 19, 1536) was the second wife and queen consort of Henry VIII and the mother of Queen Elizabeth I of England. Henry's divorce from Catherine of Aragon and marriage to Anne was part of the complex beginning of the considerable political and religious upheaval which was the English Reformation, with Anne herself actively promoting the cause of Church Reform. She is probably best known for her premature death when she was beheaded on false charges of adultery and treason. Her life has been the subject of numerous biographies, novels, motion pictures, plays and operas.

Portraits

(see links below for Roland Hui?s essay on Anne Boleyn?s portraiture)

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There is still some disagreement over which portrait authentically represents Anne Boleyn's true appearance. An original full-length portrait was painted when Anne was queen, but it disappeared over the following centuries. In the lifetime of Anne's daughter, Queen Elizabeth I, several copies were made - all of them depicting the same black dress and elaborate pearl necklace, with some variations on skin and hair colouring.

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Two images made by the great German artist Hans Holbein also survive. The first was drawn sometime around 1530, but it was not labelled as Anne Boleyn until 1649 - over a century after her death - and so it is now regarded as inaccurate by most historians. Another Holbein sketch was labelled as Anne Boleyn in the reign of Edward VI but mistakes were made in this labelling process. Furthermore, the woman's physical appearance does not match accounts of Anne's appearance. Some have argued that it might show Anne when she was pregnant, but evidence suggests that it might actually be a sketch of Anne's favourite cousin - Lady Margaret Lee. The sitter is a fair-featured woman wearing a furred dressing gown and linen cap.

Related Topics:
Hans Holbein - 1530 - Anne Boleyn - 1649 - Edward VI - Margaret Lee

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A miniature by the Dutch artist, Lucas van Horenbout, was identified as Anne in the 1980s because the broach the lady wears shows a white falcon, which became Anne's symbol in 1533. However, the white falcon was also the symbol of Anne's Irish family and so it could be a portrait of any of Anne's female relatives. Furthermore, the wings of the falcon on the broach sweep downwards, whilst the wings on Anne's falcon went upwards.

Related Topics:
1980 - 1533

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Another portrait, which now hangs at Nidd Hall in England, is supposedly painted of Anne later in her life. However, recent research has suggested that it was not painted until the 1560s and that the owners used it as tool to express their loyalty to Anne?s daughter, Elizabeth. It should not be regarded as authentic.

Related Topics:
England - 1560

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In later centuries hundreds of portraits were made to feed the public's fascination with her, but they should not be regarded as accurate. These later romantic portraits often showed her in inaccurate costumes or drew inspiration from the tragic scenes of her demise.

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