maum wrote:
I read that Anne of Cleves was indeed rather unattractive but sent a very flattering portrait of herself. Henry 'fell in love' (or should I say lust) with the portrait and was traumatised when he saw her in the flesh as she looked totally different.

Hans Holbein was dispatched to Cleves to paint the portrait and made it very flattering (not an uncommon occurance even today). Henry was disappointed by the reality of her looks. They say that Anne was very intelligent in an era where women were very poorly educated.