Unknown Lady, by Hans Holbein the younger, inscribed Anna Bollein Queen. Windsor Castle
I was doing some reading into Tudor fashion and came across some interesting information about a nightgown that Henry VIII, in 1532, ordered from John Malte as a gift for the Lady Anne Boleyn.
Nightgowns in Tudor time were the equivalent of a modern day dressing gown.
In 1530, George Cavendish hurried to court to share the news of Cardinal Wolsey’s death. In his own words:
‘The next day I was sent for to the King, conducted by Mr. Norris, where the King was in a nightgown of rochet [reddish brown or grey] velvet, furred with sables, before whom I kneeled the space of an hour.’ (Norris, Pg. 263)
It was obviously acceptable to receive guests in one’s nightgown, it was not a bed garment and different to a nightshirt.
In 1532, Henry VIII ordered from John Malte a robe de chambre or nightgown for Anne Boleyn.
In Herbert Norris’ Tudor Costume and Fashion he describes the gown in detail:
‘In shape this nightgown was a loose wrap-over garment reaching to the feet. Of black satin, it was lined throughout with black taffeta and had wide bands of velvet down the fronts and round the hem. Its sleeves were large, and as buckram was used to line the upper parts they must have been much puffed at the shoulders. There would be a deep turned-down collar, and cuffs of black velvet at the moderately wide wrists.’ (Pg. 263)
Norris comments that ‘the whole effect must have been somewhat somber, especially when it is remembered that the Lady Anne is said to have had black hair’ (Pg. 263).
I must say that I disagree. I think that it would have looked striking on Anne because of her dark hair and eyes. If only we could peel back the layers of time and see for ourselves!
Interestingly, in one of Holbein’s drawings inscribed ‘Anna Bollein Queen’, the sitter appears to be in a nightgown. This drawing is now in the royal collection at Windsor and according to Professor Eric Ives, Anne sat for neither of the Holbein drawings (Pg. 42).
For a more detailed look at this and other Anne Boleyn portraits, read Would the real Anne Boleyn please come forward?
Reference Ives, E. The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn, 2004. Norris, H. Tudor Costume and Fashion, 1997.
I am wondering how Ives knows for sure that Anne never sat for Holbein?
Hi Cindy, he believes that Anne never sat for the Holbein drawings later inscribed as Anne Boleyn (one is in the royal collection Windsor and the other in the British Museum). There is no way of knowing for sure whether Anne ever sat for Holbein during her reign which is of course a great pity.
Maybe he did it from memory, because didn’t Anne have him design many pieces of tableware etc for her, some for gifts for Henry? Shame we will never know for sure. I also think, Natalie that she would have looked stunning in the black nightgown, did he have this designed before they married, hoping it would do the trick, and get her into his bed… ha ha