Has Facial Recognition Identified Anne Boleyn in a Hans Holbein Drawing? Anne Boleyn’s Appearance

From History Calling

Has facial recognition identified Anne Boleyn in a Hans Holbein drawing by comparing it to pictures of her family members, including her daughter Elizabeth I and have the researchers also identified pictures of Anne Boleyn’s mother, Lady Elizabeth Howard and Anne Boleyn’s sister, Mary Boleyn? In this Tudor history documentary from History Calling I look at the new journal article by Karen L. Davies, Hassan Ugail and David G. Stork to ask if their research holds water and if we have finally solved the mystery of what Anne Boleyn really looked like. Above all, is this a Hans Holbein drawing of Anne Boleyn? The article claims that by comparing an image of an unknown woman with brown hair and eyes and a striking flat topped hat, drawn in the 1530s or early 1540s by Hans Holbein the Younger, to known images of some of Anne’s relatives, facial recognition software gives a high probability that this is the second wife of Henry VIII. What about the holes in the research though? How reliable is facial recognition software when used on drawings and paintings instead of photographs? How can we be confident this is Anne when we have no confirmed, contemporary images of her to compare it too and the team discounted a 1534 medal of her due to its damage? Why did they compare this image to NPG 668 of Anne Boleyn, but not the Hever Rose portrait of Anne Boleyn? Why did they opt to compare this drawing to only one image of Anne’s daughter and why didn’t they include the only image we have of her father, Thomas Boleyn, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond, in their analysis? Are there other Tudor women who could be depicted in this drawing and what did they say about an image long labelled as Lady Vaux? If you love Tudor art history, the history of Anne Boleyn or historical mysteries, then this is the video for you. Make sure to subscribe and switch on the bell icon for more.