Researchers have applied modern facial recognition technology to a 16th-century chalk sketch traditionally identified as Anne Boleyn, the English queen executed for treason nearly five centuries ago, challenging previous assumptions about the portrait’s subject. The sketch, attributed to Hans Holbein the Younger, bears an inscription reading “Anna Bollein Queen,” but scholars caution that the label was likely added long after the artwork was created and may be inaccurate.

Karen L. Davies, one of the researchers involved in the study, pointed out several discrepancies casting doubt on the identification. The woman depicted in the sketch is blonde with a double chin, whereas historical descriptions characterize Anne Boleyn as dark-haired and slender. To investigate further, the team conducted a comparative analysis involving approximately 80 other Holbein sketches, comparing the disputed image to confirmed portraits from the same period.

Of particular interest was a comparison with a painting known to portray Elizabeth I, Anne Boleyn’s daughter. Utilizing computational facial recognition methods—which assess facial structure and features—the researchers found a closer resemblance between the subject of the chalk sketch and Elizabeth I’s likeness that suggested a familial relationship consistent with grandmother and granddaughter. This finding led the team to propose that the sketch more likely represents Anne Boleyn’s mother, rather than the queen herself.

The study highlights the complexities of attributing historical portraits, particularly when inscriptions or provenance are uncertain or added retrospectively. It also demonstrates how emerging technologies can provide new insights into longstanding historical questions, although definitive identification remains elusive. Some experts continue to regard other images as potentially accurate representations of Anne Boleyn, underscoring ongoing debate about the queen’s visual legacy.