An intriguing discovery has emerged from recent AI analysis of two Renaissance sketches by Hans Holbein. One of these sketches, long thought to depict Anne Boleyn, may actually portray her mother, while the other could be the queen herself. This finding challenges centuries of assumptions about these famous Tudor images.

Reevaluating the Famous Holbein Sketches

The two sketches are part of the Royal Collection and have puzzled experts for years. One, called the Windsor sketch, shows a woman in profile with light skin and red hair, traditionally identified as Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s second wife. The other, known as the Unidentified Woman, has remained a mystery, with its subject’s identity debated for generations. Now, researchers believe their identities might have been mixed up since the 1700s.

An independent scholar, Karen Davies, noticed inconsistencies in the historical labels attached to these images. She pointed out that Boleyn was often described as having a darker complexion, which didn’t match the light features of the Windsor sketch. The labels from the 1700s, she argued, might have been incorrect, leading to a long-standing misidentification.

How AI Helps Reopen the Debate

Davies teamed up with Prof Hassan Ugail from the University of Bradford, who developed an AI model capable of analyzing old master paintings. The AI compared the sketches with over 80 other works from Holbein’s collection, looking for patterns and similarities. The analysis revealed that the Unidentified Woman was more closely related to images of Elizabeth Howard, Boleyn’s mother, than to Boleyn herself.

The AI grouped the images based on visual similarities, and the results suggested that the Windsor sketch might not be Boleyn at all, but her mother. Conversely, the Unidentified Woman appeared to share features with Boleyn, raising the possibility that the traditional labels could be reversed.

The researchers hope their work will spark a broader debate about the identities of these portraits. They emphasize that this isn’t a final verdict, but an invitation for further research and discussion. The Royal Collection Trust welcomed the findings, noting that the collection has long been open to new insights and reinterpretations.

Historical Context of Holbein’s Portraits

Hans Holbein was a renowned Renaissance artist born in Augsburg, Germany. He moved to England to escape the European Reformation’s chaos and became a court painter for Henry VIII. Holbein painted many important figures of the Tudor court, including Thomas More and Anne Boleyn. His portraits are celebrated as some of the finest from the period.

Holbein’s work often captured the political and personal tensions of the time. For example, he painted Boleyn just before her tragic execution, making his portraits valuable historical records. Earlier this year, experts analyzed the well-known “Rose” portrait of Boleyn, suggesting it might have been a visual rebuttal to rumors claiming she had a sixth finger, a sign of witchcraft.

This new AI-based research adds more layers to our understanding of Holbein’s portraits. It highlights how technology can help reexamine historical artworks and challenge long-held beliefs. As the debate continues, more discoveries like this could reshape how we see Tudor history and Holbein’s artistic legacy.

Inspired by

• https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2026/may/03/unnamed-holbein-portrait-anne-boleyn-ai-analysis

Sources

• nature.com