Portrait of a nun in payer - 16th century old master

Very fine 16th century French or Flemish Old Master portrait painting of a nun

The present painting has been very delicately painted by an accomplished hand, creating a warm and life-likely depiction of the sitter. An interesting observation is that our painting, by the composition and costume of the sitter, appears to be related to a painting of Jeanne de France painted by Jean Perréal. Joan of France (French: Jeanne de France, Jeanne de Valois; 23 April 1464 – 4 February 1505), was briefly Queen of France as wife of King Louis XII, in between the death of her brother, King Charles VIII, and the annulment of her marriage. After that, she retired to her domain, where she soon founded the monastic Order of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, where she served as abbess. From this Order later sprang the religious congregation of the Apostolic Sisters of the Annunciation, founded in 1787 to teach the children of the poor. She was canonized on 28 May 1950. The possible closeness between our painting and the one mentioned, might present the hypothesis that our sitter was a member of the monastic Order of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and had her likeness depicted as a tribute to Joan of France.

On the reverse of the panel there is an old French label attributing it to Jean de Mabuse.

The panel was once likely part of a larger (altar)piece, as the shape of the sides and a bevel on the reverse indicate.

The panel measures ca. 43*35 cms and with the frame ca. 61,5*53,5cms.

Provenance: Private collection France

Likely 16th century.