For this week’s #portraittuesday, I’m sharing this stunning miniature of Anne Boleyn by John Hoskins. Isn’t it lovely?
It dates to the 17th century, but historian Eric Ives believes that Hoskins based it on an earlier portrait, a contemporary portrait. Historian Eric Ives believes that Hoskins had access to a now lost full-length portrait of Anne Boleyn, which is thought to have been painted by Hans Holbein the Younger. We know that that portrait was in the possession of John Lumley, 1st Baron Lumley, in 1590 and that it existed as late as April 1773, when it was sold at auction, although it had been cut down due to fire damage.
Ives describes the Hoskins miniature as “the best depiction of Anne we are ever likely to have, failing the discovery of new material”. What do you think?
We obviously do have a contemporary image of Anne Boleyn, the 1534 Most Happy medal, although it’s definitely not as good as a contemporary portrait.
I do love this portrait of Anne Boleyn, and if Eric Ives himself declares it the nearest likeness to the queen we are ever likely to get, then that’s good enough for me! All her portraits are similar, she has a long oval face pointed chin, heavy lidded dark brown eyes and dark brown hair, though in some her hair has a somewhat chestnut tinge, her skin is creamy and she wears her favourite pearls and French hood, we are indeed lucky that we have this beautiful image for Hoskins was a very fine miniaturist, but how wonderful it would be if the lost portrait by Holbein were discovered that was once owned by Baron Lumley, which Ives believes was the portrait Hoskins based his miniature on, at the very best however, we do have this wonderful piece of art.