In a surprising turn of events, a painting by Clara Peeters has been uncovered in a museum’s storage. Art historian Cynthia Osiecki, while searching for a Clara Peeters artwork in an Oslo museum in 2022, stumbled upon an unattributed still-life painting. Osiecki suspected it might be a lost work by Peeters, a renowned 17th-century Flemish Baroque artist.
The painting, titled “Still Life with Small Game and Grapes on a Gilded Tazza,” was initially believed to be created by Ambrosius Brueghel before being categorized as “anonymous” and stored away. Through meticulous research over several years, Osiecki successfully reattributed the painting to Peeters. The discovery was significant, considering Peeters’ historical obscurity among female artists of her time.
Peeters, an early expert in still-life painting, was known for integrating her likeness into everyday objects in her works. The Oslo painting showcases nine dead birds, hazelnuts, apricots, and distinctive elements like grapes and a tazza, typical of Peeters’ style. Despite challenges such as woodworm damage obscuring Peeters’ signature, thorough analysis and comparison with other works confirmed Peeters as the artist.
The National Museum of Norway is shedding light on female artists with the upcoming “Woman Painter” exhibition, featuring works by 19 female artists spanning 1550-1650. This initiative aims to highlight the overlooked contributions of historic female artists like Clara Peeters. Osiecki emphasizes the importance of continued research to uncover and recognize more works by female artists, addressing past misattributions and underrepresentation in art history.