French School circa 1592 Portrait of François... Lot 43

French School circa 1592 Portrait of François de Bonne de Lesdiguières governor of Grenoble (1543-1626) Walnut panel An inscription at the top, at droite : AETATIS SUAE 48/1592 Original frame with curtain rod (old restorations and small lacks) 47 x 37 cm It is thanks to the inscription at the top of the painting that we have been able to date this portrait very precisely. The oldest known of the constable. Indeed, these dates correspond to those of François de Bonne de Lesdiguieres governor of Grenoble (1543-1626). The inscription indicates that Lesdiguieres is 48 years old, yet he was born on 1er avril, which means that the panel was painted between the beginning of January and the end of mars 1592. The last constable of France under the Ancien Régime. An outstanding military leader, diplomat and skilful negotiator, he was described by Henri IV as "as cunning as a fox". In 1590, he seized Grenoble against the Catholic League, on behalf of the king, and was thus appointed governor of the city of Grenoble. The motto noted at the top left, "Simpli (ci) tas Prudens" (Matthew 10.16, reference to Thomas More and Pierre Gilles) is that of a number of Protestants associated with the writings of Erasmus and Thomas More. It was used by François de Bonne before he became Councillor of State in 1595, when he changed it to "Nihil Nisi a Nomine".