When this story first appeared, it was noted that the woman who owned the painting had lived in Compiègne. Compiègne was the site of a royal residence from 1374

When this story first appeared, it was noted that the woman who owned the painting had lived in Compiègne. Compiègne was the site of a royal residence from 1374 until the Revolution, and the site of a Carmelite convent (which received significant royal support) from 1641 until 1792. The painting could well have belonged to the convent, been sold off locally when it was closed, and either stayed in the family of the original purchaser or made its way through various local antique shops. So there's a decent chance that much of the painting's history, including its last religious use, took place in France.