A centuries-old rumor about England’s most notorious queen may finally be put to rest. Researchers examining a 450-year-old portrait of Anne Boleyn say they have uncovered evidence that the painting was deliberately altered to counter claims that the queen had a “sixth finger,” a charge that circulated after her execution and was used to label her as unnatural. The finding centers on the Hever “Rose” portrait, held at Hever Castle in Kent, England, which scientists studied using advanced imaging techniques. “Scientific imaging carried out at the Hamilton Kerr Institute has revealed a discarded triangular form beneath Anne’s right arm, recording the moment when the artist deliberately changed the composition,” a Hever Castle spokesperson said. “The result? Anne’s hands are fully visible, clearly and unmistakably showing five digits on each hand. Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s second wife, was targeted by what historians describe as a coordinated smear campaign after her downfall, including allegations of witchcraft and physical deformities. Those claims were popularized by Catholic polemicist Nicholas Sander years after her death. “This was no decorative flourish,” experts at Hever Castle said, adding that historians now believe the artist was instructed to rework the image “specifically to counter these rumours.”
The post Secret Hidden in 450-Year-Old Painting of Anne Boleyn May Solve ‘Sixth Finger’ Mystery appeared first on The Daily Beast
