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Primary sourcePaintingc. 1533–1536

Anna Bollein Queen

Hans Holbein the Younger · c. 1533–1536

A chalk drawing by Hans Holbein the Younger, inscribed 'Anna Bollein Queen' in the 16th century, though scholars dispute whether it truly shows Anne Boleyn.

This Holbein drawing was labelled as Anne Boleyn in the 16th century, though whether it truly depicts her remains disputed.

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Pencil and coloured chalk drawing on pinkish paper of a woman in profile facing left, wearing a white hood with a yellow-gold edge and a high collar. The inscription 'Anna Bollein Queen' appears at top left.
Hans Holbein the Younger, drawing inscribed 'Anna Bollein Queen', c. 1533–1536. Royal Collection, Windsor.

About this source

What it is

This is a chalk and pencil drawing by the court artist Hans Holbein the Younger, showing a woman in profile wearing a white hood. It is inscribed 'Anna Bollein Queen' and is kept in the Royal Collection at Windsor. The inscription was added in 1542 by John Cheke, tutor to the future Edward VI.

Why it matters

Because Cheke may never have seen Anne Boleyn himself, though he knew people who had, scholars including her biographer Eric Ives have strongly doubted this drawing really shows her, pointing to differences from other likely images of Anne and to unrelated sketches on the back of the sheet. The disagreement shows how uncertain our knowledge of Anne's real appearance is, since she was executed and later portraits may not be reliable.

Look closer

  • Why does it matter who added the label naming this woman as Anne, and when?
  • What kinds of evidence might help decide whether a portrait is genuine?
  • What does the ongoing disagreement among historians tell us about the limits of historical sources?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Ann Boleyn on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Primary source

Signature of Anne Boleyn

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Title page of a 1545 French printed book. Large capital letters read EPISTRE, followed by a description of the trial of Queen Anne Boullant of England, and the author line 'par Carles Aulmosnier de Monsieur le Daulphin'. A woodcut of a courtroom scene with seated judges in robes and hats fills the middle. Below, the imprint reads 'On les vend a Lyon, pres nostre Dame de Confort' and 'D. XLV'. A handwritten signature and library stamps appear at the bottom.Book

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