Anonymous portrait of the mistress of French king Henri IV

Mosan, Belgian auction house, sells on 15 October 2015 a "French School, ca. 1590, maybe environment of François Quesnel" portrait of "Mademoyselle Dantrague Te Henrie de Balsacq", estimated at 1,400 to 1,600 Euro.

It is a portrait of Catherine-Henriette de Balzac Entraygues (name spelled with countless variations), a famous mistress of Henri IV. She lived from 1579 to 1633, so this work is probably from 1600 at the earliest, certainly not 1590. As she fell in disgrace and was exiled in 1610, it seems unlikely to date from later (assuming it is an original and not a later copy of course).

There are many portraits of her. Two engravings closely resemble the current painting. The first is by Hieronymus Wierix after an engraving by Paul de la Houve (picture from the Rijksmuseum). Obviously the same woman, with the same "crown", star jewellery, hairdo (though different jewels in the hair), style of dress, and same face, but with a different collar and a bust, not a half-length portrait.

The second is by M. Aubert after "AB" (Ambrosius Bosschaert?). It has the same clothing as in the Wierix engraving, but turned to the other side, and now half-length, like the painting for sale.

Considering the differences (dress, hair jewellery), it seems likely that, despite first appearances, the painting for sale is not a later copy after one of these engravings, but is (a copy after?) an original work from the very same period. Who made it? No idea, not François Quesnel who is a  much better painter. I don't think a better indication than "French School" is possible. But if it is an original from the period, it should easily fetch the estimate, with a rather illustrious sitter as the subject. If you hang an old painting on the wall, it is always better if it has a story attached to it, and royal mistresses trying to poison their king are always good dinner conversation stuff!

UPDATE: sold for 3,600 Euro, more than double the estimate.