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Different takes on Anne's appearance
October 23, 2009
2:17 am
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Gina
Lindenhurst, USA
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Found a great website I wanted to share with you all. It has different artists (from diffrent time periods) portraits of Anne, Henry, his other wives and other Tudor era characters. Check it out:

http://www.fanpop.com/spots/ki…..henry-viii

I think that the Ludlow portrait is even in here, that was previously discussed!

XO-Gina 

October 23, 2009
1:30 pm
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Belle
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What a cool site!  Thanks for sharing.  It's so interesting how some images vary so much, but the thing for Anne that stayed the same were her eyes. 

I was looking at the portraits of Catherine and some have her with aburn hair and another has her with black hair and blue eyes.

How do we know which portrait out of all them accurately present what they looked like?  I think portraits are beautiful, but because painting is an art form, I think the artist uses some interpretation, because they can't all look that different, you know?  Elizabeth was the one who I thought looked the most consistent.

October 23, 2009
2:48 pm
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Rochie
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Thanks for sharing, Gina!

The thing to remember, Belle, about portraits of this kind is that many of them are done at later periods, after the life of the subjects have long passed. Some of those on that site, for instance, are Victorian (19th Century) and are very idealised and not at all accurate. Also each period of history had its ideal type, or face, and portraits tended to obey the conventions of the times – which sometimes resulted in distortions of the truth, to put it mildly. Holbein was the most brilliant of all the Tudor artists, and I always feel we can trust him – despite the one notable controversy over Anne of Cleves. His work is just stunningly beautiful.

October 24, 2009
3:15 am
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Emma_pug
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Neat site!  It combines a lot of different portraits in one space, I loved looking at them.  Some of the Katherine of Aragon ones I hadn't seen before.  Interesting to see many versions!  Of all the Anne portraits, my favorite, favorite of all time is the Ludlow one.  I know it may not be \”reliable\”, per se, but there is just something about it that \”speaks\” to me.  Anne's eyes are alive, it's like she is looking right at you.  In my mind, when I think of Anne, this is how I picture her and always will.

The funny thing is, despite the fact that we don't have a concrete likeness of Anne, her features that are consistent in most portraits are also so noticeable in Elizabeth. 🙂  Those angular cheekbones, the chin, that expression.  Of course she also looks much like her father, but there is no denying her as Anne's daughter.  I love that, I love how Anne lived on in her daughter.

Noli me tangere

October 25, 2009
5:00 am
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ProudtobeCatholic
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Cool site!  Yeah, portriats often alter a person's appearence to fit the ideal of beauty of the time period.  I wish I could go back in time with my camera, and take a photo of Anne.  While I'm there I'd get pics of Henry, Katharine of Aragon, Elizabeth, Mary, Jane Seymour, Cramner, Cromwell, and other important people as well.  Although, if they caught me with my camera they'd probally burn me at the stake for witchcraft! lol!

When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.

October 25, 2009
7:15 pm
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Rochie
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Newcomers, you might find this interesting:

http://elizabethfiles.wetpaint…..+Portraits

about half way down the page, you'll find a flip through 180 degrees of an Anne Boleyn portrait and this is placed alongside one of Elizabeth. Some think that many of the Anne portraits, which could have been painted after her death in some instances, might even have been based on those of her daughter.

And on the same page you'll also find an interesting superimposed image of two portraits, of Elizabeth and Anne combined.

October 26, 2009
1:29 pm
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Belle
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Very interesting!

October 27, 2009
6:39 pm
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Melissa
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When Gina first posted this thread it reminded me of a website I had seen a while ago and I've been trying to find it for days.  My problem was that I was using Google and it turned out to be someone's geocities site.  I have now found the site I was looking for!

http://www.geocities.com/rolan…..aiture.htm

This guy is a SCHOLAR.  Everything is cited and backed up, so I think you'll all find it usefull.  He successfully (to me anyway) argues that certain portraits of Anne actually use the face of Jane Seymour, and that the Holbein stetch inscribed “Anna Bollein Queen” that we all dismiss is NOT Anne Boleyn. 

Let me know what ya'll think.

Ainsi sera, groigne qui groigne.

October 27, 2009
7:37 pm
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ProudtobeCatholic
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Melissa, I clicked your link and got this:

Sorry, the GeoCities web site you were trying to reach is no longer available.

*Edit*  I searched the archives and I think I found the site. http://web.archive.org/web/200…..aiture.htm

When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.

October 27, 2009
8:28 pm
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Melissa
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Yes, ProudToBeCatholic, that's it.  I was wondering how I was even able to access the original geocities site.  Thank you for finding that!

Ainsi sera, groigne qui groigne.

November 1, 2009
5:02 pm
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ipaud
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I still have the feeling that the Holbein sketch in the British museum is the closest likeness as portrait painters back then would not have the access to their subjects for the long periods necessary to create the desired result. they would make sketches of their subjects to have a \”true likeness\” to work with.

I know that I go on about it ad nauseum, ( try living with me and a copy of the sketch on my wall!)

Having been so lucky to have been inches away from it in an accidental private viewing and having a copy of it on my wall at home ( I have been all over it in PhotoShop too!) to me it is Anne's true likeness. from what I have read, it is the basis for the Hever portrait. I cant get over the feeling that I have met someone who resembles the sketch or maybe just have the feeling that its the one??

From a guy's point of view, Anne in this portrait sketch is captivating and I am drawn into it far beyond the one dimension.

Sounds crazy everywhere else but here…

I have been researching \”Master Holbein\” and will write a post about him when I think I have enough research done.

If it was not this, then it would be something else?

November 3, 2009
3:42 am
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Gina
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I still can't gain access to the additional pictures! UGH! I get the text but not the pictures!

Paud, I would love to hear the story of the \”accidental private viewing.\”

I have to say I believe that is the closest thing we are going to get to her likeness as well. There is definitely charisma seeping off the lady in it! It is always said that Anne wasn't a great beauty but her charm and wit were captivating. I get that vibe from the Holbein portrait.

XO-Gina

November 5, 2009
2:54 pm
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Linda
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IPaud just brought up something very interesting!  Anne had an Irish link through her Grandmother's marriage to the Butler's in Ireland! With this in mind, consider this: The Roman Empire once extended to Ireland and the term \”Black Irish,\” stems from the dark dramatic coloring of the Romans that has been carried through generations of Irish-Roman unions. This is where Anne got her dark  exotic looks from!

Linda

November 6, 2009
2:53 am
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Impish_Impulse
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Gina said:

I still can't gain access to the additional pictures! UGH! I get the text but not the pictures!


Me, either, Gina. I tried entering the picture links into a new browser window both with and without the web archive url in front of it, but no go. I think I know most of which paintings they are referring to, but it would be nice to see them to make sure.

                        survivor ribbon                             

               "Don't knock at death's door. 

          Ring the bell and run. He hates that."    

November 6, 2009
2:03 pm
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Belle
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Me either!  It comes up as blank boxes where the picture's are supposed to be.

December 16, 2010
8:42 am
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Anne
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always considered Anne closer to the Hever portrait because I believe she had a sharp beauty,and more defining and delicate characteristics.I am not a big fan of the NG portrait because I believe it is more Elizabeth than Anne(Elizabeth although have taken after Anne,she looked a lot like her father and the Beaufort line of his family)so in my eyes it is more a tribute to Elizabeth.Also,I don't like the ghastly look it has (she is dedicated a lot pale while her complexion was darker and warmer in my opinion).Another favorite of mine is this one(although she is way too pale for what Anne was considered to be)Image Enlarger

and this one

Image Enlarger

because they saw the younger one,the one that shone through the french and english courts,the one that caught Henry's heart,Wyatt's “brunette”.Also,they seem more realistic and their Anne seems so delicate and sweet!

December 30, 2010
6:45 am
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Boleynfan
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But the thing that I've often wondered is: which is the most accurate? I agree with you, Anne, about the NG portrait versus the Hever one, but didn't historians agree that the NG was the more accurate?

"Grumble all you like, this is how it's going to be"

December 30, 2010
5:12 pm
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Anne
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I believe they did and that also the NPG is older I think.But they are closely similar(them and all the other portraits)that it makes sense that they are all based on the same original portrait,so in my opinion,they all weight the same!But as preferances go,I prefer the Hever one.I find it closer to Anne.But I also find this miniature very good,it seems like it is based on both.It has something of the NPG but Anne in this has sharper,more refined and delicate characteristics.[Image Can Not Be Found]

December 30, 2010
8:06 pm
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Bella44
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I've never seen this miniature before!  Thanks so much for putting it up, Anne!  It looks like a later copy of the Hever portrait (which is my favourite) and by a more competent artist.  Wow, it really is very pretty!

December 31, 2010
7:26 am
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Boleynfan
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I also found a portrait of Anne circa 1500s at the National Gallery of Ireland:
http://onlinecollection.nation…..a38c716649

It's pretty similar to the NG of England portrait, I think, but I have to say certain points of it better.

"Grumble all you like, this is how it's going to be"

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