366 - Portrait drawing of Christine of France (1606–1663), daughter of King Henry IV—attributed to Nicholas Lagneau

Portrait drawing of Christine of France (1606–1663), daughter of King Henry IV—attributed to Nicholas Lagneau 23.5 x 16.2 cm. Attributed to Nicholas Lagneau and inscribed on the back as the daughter of King Henry IV of France and Marie de’ Medici, who later became Duchess of Savoy. This hypothesis was based on the subject’s apparent age, the half-profile pose, and the pearl necklace. The most plausible working hypothesis is that the drawing may have originated from the group of 40 sheets in the Jakob Heinrich von Hefner-Alteneck collection, sold at Hugo Helbing, Munich, on June 6, 1904 (lot 509). Following this sale, it was acquired by an anonymous collector who stamped his collection with the initials “H.B.” or “L. 3499,” as recorded in Frits Lugt’s *Collectors’ Marks*. This work once belonged to a distinguished—though still unidentified—collector who marked his pieces with a stamp bearing the initials “NB.” Major auction houses frequently cite significant graphic works that passed through this collection at some point. The Frits Lugt catalog lists the mark as L3499. The paper bears a watermark characteristic of the late 17th century. The drawing measures 23.5 x 16.2 cm. Extensive research suggests that this drawing originated from a lot sold at auction featuring depictions of prominent figures from the French royal court. The portrait shows a young girl wearing a pearl necklace; she almost certainly belonged to a royal or extremely wealthy family, given that such a necklace would have been a luxury item at the time.