Art historian and curator Cynthia Osiecki made a remarkable discovery in 2022 when she identified an unattributed still-life painting in an Oslo museum’s storage as potentially created by Clara Peeters.
Osiecki, who had been researching the renowned 17th-century Flemish Baroque artist, suspected the painting might be a long-lost work by Peeters, leading to an unexpected revelation.
Despite Peeters’ significant contributions, she remains relatively obscure in public awareness, a common plight among female artists of her era, according to Osiecki.
The National Museum of Norway aims to shine a light on historic female artists with the upcoming exhibition “Woman Painter,” featuring works by 19 female artists from northern Europe and Italy between 1550 and 1650, including Judith Leyster, Lavinia Fontana, Artemisia Gentileschi, and Clara Peeters.
Unveiling the True Artist of the Painting
The painting, originally thought to be by Ambrosius Brueghel, was reclassified as “anonymous” before being reattributed to Peeters after a meticulous process led by Osiecki over several years.
Peeters, an early still-life painting specialist, was known for incorporating subtle self-portraits into her works, asserting her identity in a male-dominated art world.
The Oslo painting, titled Still Life with Small Game and Grapes on a Gilded Tazza, showcases elements distinctive to Peeters’ style, such as the inclusion of nine dead birds and the presence of hazelnuts, apricots, and grapes.
Osiecki’s careful examination revealed key details, including the depiction of a tazza and the unique arrangement of the birds within the composition, solidifying Peeters as the true artist behind the piece.
Despite challenges like woodworm damage obscuring Peeters’ signature, Osiecki and her team’s diligent research and comparison of Peeters’ works confirmed her authorship.
The painting will headline the “Woman Painter” exhibition, showcasing the importance of recognizing and celebrating underrepresented female artists throughout history.
Nora Ceciliedatter, director of collections and exhibitions at the National Museum of Norway, emphasized the exhibition’s role in highlighting overlooked artistic contributions.
Osiecki’s journey to attribute the painting to Peeters underscores the ongoing need to uncover and acknowledge the significant works of female artists often overshadowed by male counterparts.