Click on the images for larger versions of each one. A number of these were scanned by Lara E. Eakins at Tudor History or Edward Bühler at Tudor Portraits and have been included to illustrate my theme. The majority were scanned by me, but where this is not the case this is acknowledged below the image.

A Medal of 1534

© British Museum. Scanned by Douglas Dowell.

This is the only certain contemporary image of Anne Boleyn to survive; a medal from 1534, it may have been minted to commemorate the expected arrival of a prince. Unusually, it shows her in a gable hood, and it also has her personal motto of "The Most Happy".

A Ring of Elizabeth I with Portraits of Herself and Anne

© Trustees of Chequers. Scanned by Douglas Dowell.

This ring was made for Elizabeth around 1575, to judge from the image of her shown here. Anne is shown here, and the facial type is clearly the same sort as that of the National Portrait Gallery image.

© Trustees of Chequers. Scanned by Douglas Dowell.

This inset of Anne shows the resemblance to the NPG portrait more clearly.

The National Portrait Gallery Image

© National Portrait Gallery. Scanned by Lara E. Eakins at Tudor History.

The most famous image of Anne Boleyn and the best example of this tradition of portraiture. It probably makes Anne's colouring lighter than it actually was in reality, but it was probably copied from an original of about 1533.

Another National Portrait Gallery Image

© National Portrait Gallery. Scanned by Edward Bühler at Tudor Portraits.

Obviously the same type, this is a less skilfully executed image. Interestingly, Anne's hair here seems to be quite blonde - possibly some of her portraits were 'lightened', given the preference for fair colouring?

Portrait of Anne Boleyn at Hever

© Hever Castle. Scanned by Lara E. Eakins at Tudor History.

This is obviously the same tradition as the NPG images. It may also give a truer impression as to Anne's colouring, with the dark, nearly black hair.

Portrait of Anne Boleyn at Loseley Hall

© Loseley Hall. Scanned by Douglas Dowell.

This shows Anne with rather darker skin than the others and an 'HA' pendant rather than a 'B'.

An Image at Tredegan House

© Dulwich Picture Gallery. Scanned by Douglas Dowell.

This was one of a series of portraits of Tudor royalty, as were many of the other images of Anne. Anne's mouth is rather different here from the others - possibly a little like the Weston Park Holbein drawing?

Miniature of Anne Boleyn by John Hoskins

© The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry. Scanned by Lara E. Eakins at Tudor History.

This minature was described as being based on "an ancient original"; it dates from the seventeenth century itself and is clearly related to the NPG image. E.W. Ives described it as the best depiction of Anne we are likely to have.

The Nidd Hall Portrait of Anne Boleyn

Private Collection. Scanned by Douglas Dowell.

Certainly, the painter intended this portrait to be of Anne Boleyn; hence the 'AB' pendant. However, the portrait does bear a remarkable similarity to others of Jane Seymour in many respects, putting the authenticity of the tradition into question. Anne does, however, look somewhat older here than in the NPG pattern, and the shape of the face is not incompatible with it. I would suggest that it is not incompatible with the Weston Park drawing, either.

Holbein Drawing at Windsor, Inscribed 'Anna Bollein Queen'

© HM the Queen. Scanned by Douglas Dowell.

This sketch's authenticity is disputed. It has been suggested that Anne may have been pregnant when it was made; David Starkey has argued that the thick neck corresponds to a description of Anne at her coronation, but this account also claimed that her dress was adorned with a motif of pierced tongues! In my own judgment, this image is not really compatible with the authenticated tradition of Anne's portraiture. Allegedly the authenticaton originated with Sir John Cheke, Edward VI's tutor, but this is by no means certain; the inscription dates from the eighteenth century.

Holbein Drawing at Weston Park with 'Anna Bullen decollata fuit Londini 19 May 1536' Written on It

© British Museum. Scanned by Douglas Dowell.

The writing on this drawing dates from the first half of the seventeenth century. When the Earl of Arundel owned both of the Holbein sketches purporting to be Anne, this one was engraved as her rather than the other, but on what authentication we don't know. As with the Windsor drawing, this sketch doesn't have real authority - but I would suggest, personally, that it might be compatible with the NPG portraits. (At any rate, I like to think it might be genuine!)

Dorothy Tutin as Anne Boleyn

© BBC. Scanned by Douglas Dowell.

I felt at least one actress who played Anne should be acknowledged in the gallery!