Gabrielle d'Estrées and One of Her Sisters | Unknown | c. 1594

In this enigmatic and sensual painting from the Fontainebleau School, we see Gabrielle d’Estrées—mistress of King Henry IV of France—seated nude in a bath beside her equally bare sister. The composition is striking: Gabrielle delicately holds a ring, thought to be the king’s, while her sister pinches her right nipple. Far from an erotic gesture alone, this detail is widely interpreted as a symbolic announcement of Gabrielle’s pregnancy, a subject often explored through visual metaphor during the late Renaissance.

The intimate setting contrasts with the ambiguous, almost emotionless expressions of the two women. In the background, a seamstress is sewing, reinforcing domestic and maternal themes. Though the artist remains unknown, the work belongs to a refined tradition of courtly portraiture steeped in allegory and political messaging. Gabrielle was not only a lover but also a politically influential figure, and this painting quietly celebrates her role in the royal lineage through both symbolism and sensuality.