In this week's Claire chats video, I answer Tudor Society member Laurie's question: "why did Anne wear a gable hood to her execution, when she traditionally only wore French hoods? Was it possibly related to showing increased piety, etc.?"
Here are the images I mention in my talk:
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- Woman said to be Catherine of Aragon by Michel Sittow
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- The Yarnborough Portrait of Mary Tudor, Queen of France, and Charles Brandon
Margaret Tudor is also wearing a gable hood in this portrait:
Margaret Tudor by Daniel Mytens
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- Sketch by Hans Holbein the Younger
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- 1534 medal depicting Queen Anne Boleyn
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- Miniature by Lucas Horenbout
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- Nidd Hall Portrait
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- Engraving by Jacobus Houbraken
The snuff box miniature can be seen at Lissa Bryan's blog - http://under-these-restless-skies.blogspot.com.es/2017/03/a-lovely-new-portrait-of-anne-boleyn.html
Tudor Society members can view my Claire Chats video on Tudor women's costume at www.tudorsociety.com/tudor-costume-video-what-women-wore-at-henry-viiis-court/
There is also the image of the ‘Lady of the Garter’ in the 1534 ‘Black Book of the Garter’ that I believe is Anne Boleyn (she wears a large pendant with the cipher ‘A R’ – that is ‘Anna Regina’).
In the illustration, she wears an English gabled hood.
Very true!
How do we know she wore a fabled hood to her execution?
Feel better 😊
Thank you! The primary accounts describe what she wore and they concur, e.g. “She was then stripped of her short mantle furred with ermines, and afterwards took off her hood, which was of English make, herself.” LP X. 911, “took off her head-dress, which was in the English fashion” Imperial Account, M.S. Brussels, and by “make” and “English fashion” they mean the English gable hood.
Thanks so much, Claire, for this very in depth response to my question! The portraits that you mention, which could likely be Anne, wearing the Gable hood, certainly do support that she was not specifically against wearing this, and likely did wear it on some occasions. And I really like your theory that the reason she possibly wore it to her execution was to emphasize that she was an English woman above all, and specifically an English queen. Thanks again for your great insights as always!
Perhaps the Gable hood was easier to remove.