Is this the real face of Anne Boleyn?
A computer science team from the University of Bradford claims to have identified a previously unknown sketch of Anne Boleyn using facial recognition technology on Tudor portraits by Hans Holbein the Younger. While the researchers believe the sketch, long labeled as an 'unidentified woman,' actually depicts Boleyn, art historians remain skeptical of the methodology. The Royal Collection Trust, which holds the artworks, did not participate in the study and does not endorse its findings.
- ▪The research team used facial recognition algorithms to compare Holbein's drawings and identify potential matches for Anne Boleyn.
- ▪The sketch believed to be Boleyn has been mislabeled for centuries as an 'unidentified woman' in the Royal Collection Trust's archives.
- ▪Art historian Dr Bendor Grosvenor dismissed the findings as 'a load of rubbish,' citing a flawed methodology.
- ▪Dr Charlotte Bolland notes there is no securely authenticated lifetime portrait of Anne Boleyn, fueling ongoing debate about her appearance.
- ▪The University of Bradford team believes their method could be applied to other historical artworks for similar discoveries.
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Is this the real face of Anne Boleyn? Just nowShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleHarriet BradshawRoyal Collection Enterprises Limited 2026 | Royal Collection TrustA computer science team believe this unidentified woman could in fact be Anne BoleynAnne Boleyn won the heart of King Henry VIII, gave birth to one of the country's most well-known monarchs, and lost her head in 1536 - but her appearance has continued to challenge art historians and online sleuths.Now a computer science team believes they have discovered a previously unknown sketch of Boleyn by using facial recognition on a famous collection of Tudor portraits.Boleyn became Henry VIII's second wife in 1533, but her reign was short-lived: approximately three years.
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