Thread started: Dec 28 2009, 9:59 AM EST
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Anne of Cleves got the last laugh, didn't she? She survived a marriage to Henry VIII, stayed involved in the lives of her stepchildren (she rode next to Princess Elizabeth at Mary I's coronation, and was a guest of honor at many family events) and received an annual income from the king, living in splendor in England. This "ugly duckling" also had a panache for commissioning fancy dresses!
Yet, all that anyone ever learns about her pertains to her appearance! The "Flander's Mare" comment probably came after her time, and was not contemporary, though it is true that Henry was less than pleased with her.
Anne was not an "English Beauty", but then again, many of England's own women did not naturally look like the English ideal of beauty, so they strived to achieve it through cosmetic means, etc. Many of Englands most beautiful would not have been appealing in Germany, and so on...
I have a portrait Replica of Anne hanging in the stairwell of my house: It reminds me that luck, modesty and brains have a lot more to do with success than beauty and other peoples opinions of you!
Here's to Anne of Cleves, the "Flander's Mare" having the last laugh!
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RE: In Defense of Anne of Cleves
By: ,
Jul 22 2011, 10:28 PM EDT
"It's interesting that only Henry is on record as calling Anne unattractive. Most other people who saw her thought she was pretty or at least not ugly. It's also strange that if she really was so unlike her portrait that Holbein was not punished or rusticated from court." There is an account where Sir Anthony Browne said : " he was never more dismayed in his life to see her so far unlike that which was reported." (Deposition of Sir A. Browne. - Calendar Henry VIII., vol. 14, 2.) This was excerpted in Martin Hume's 'The Wives of Henry the Eighth and the parts they played in history' and you can read more on this page: http://tudorswiki.sho.com/page/Anne+of+Cleves+Controversies#fbid=FmaZti50C6j
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