tech
Mystery sitter in Holbein portrait could be Anne Boleyn, AI analysis finds
Researchers say works may have been incorrectly inscribed in 1700s, leading to centuries-long misunderstanding
TL;DR
- AI analysis suggests a reassessment of two Hans Holbein sketches.
- A sketch previously identified as Anne Boleyn might be an unknown woman, and the sketch of the unknown woman might be Anne Boleyn.
- Researchers used an AI model developed by Prof Hassan Ugail to compare Holbein's works.
- The AI clustered the unidentified woman with images related to Boleyn and the 'Windsor sketch' near images of Boleyn's mother, Elizabeth Howard.
- The misidentification may stem from incorrect inscriptions in the 1700s.
- Independent scholar Karen Davies had prior suspicions about the Windsor sketch's identification.
- The Royal Collection Trust welcomes further discussion and research on the sitter's identity.
- Holbein worked in England during the turbulent court of Henry VIII.