Five hundred years of slander have been dismantled by a single infrared scan. New scientific analysis of the famous "Hever Rose" portrait has revealed a secret underdrawing that exonerates Anne Boleyn of the "witchcraft" slur that a sixth finger deformed her hand.

For centuries, the myth of the extra digit was used to vilify Henry VIII’s second wife as a monster and a witch. Now, technology has allowed the Queen to speak from the grave. The analysis, conducted by the Hamilton Kerr Institute, exposes a deliberate artistic choice: the painter abandoned an initial design to specifically pose Boleyn holding a red rose, with all five fingers of her hand clearly, defiantly visible.

A Painted Rebuttal

This was not just a portrait; it was a PR campaign. Dated to around 1583, during the reign of Boleyn’s daughter Elizabeth I, the painting was a calculated "visual rebuttal" to the Catholic propaganda that sought to delegitimize the Queen by demonizing her mother.

The underdrawing shows a discarded triangular form, proving the artist actively changed the composition to showcase the hand. "It is a defense of Anne Boleyn," says Dr. Owen Emmerson of Hever Castle. By highlighting the perfection of her hand, the artist was subtly but powerfully debunking the lies that had led to her execution and the smearing of her legacy.

• The Elizabethan Rehabilitation: The portrait is part of a broader effort during Elizabeth I’s reign to rehabilitate Anne’s image from "traitor" to "martyr."
• Science meets History: The use of dendrochronology and infrared technology has provided evidence that no written archive could ever offer.

Truth Beneath the Paint

The "Hever Rose" portrait will be the centerpiece of the upcoming "Capturing a Queen" exhibition, but its true value lies in its hidden message.

It stands as a testament to the power of art as political warfare. Anne Boleyn may have lost her head, but thanks to a 16th-century artist and 21st-century science, she has finally cleared her name. The red rose she holds is not just a flower; it is a symbol of truth blooming through the asphalt of history’s lies.