A recently discovered Clara Peeters painting in an Oslo museum’s storage sheds light on the overlooked artist’s work. Art historian Cynthia Osiecki stumbled upon the unattributed still-life painting, suspecting it could be a lost piece by Peeters. The National Museum of Norway is showcasing historic female artists, including Peeters, in an upcoming exhibition called Woman Painter.
The painting, initially thought to be by Ambrosius Brueghel, was eventually reattributed to Peeters after a meticulous process led by Osiecki. Peeters, a pioneer in still-life painting, often embedded her likeness in her works, asserting her identity in a male-dominated field. The Oslo painting, titled Still Life with Small Game and Grapes on a Gilded Tazza, showcases Peeters’ unique style and attention to detail.
Despite challenges like woodworm damage obscuring Peeters’ signature, Osiecki’s team confirmed the painting’s true artist after extensive research and comparison with Peeters’ other works. The painting will be a highlight of the upcoming exhibition, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and promoting female artists whose contributions have been undervalued.
Osiecki emphasizes the ongoing need to uncover and attribute works to female artists, as many pieces remain anonymous or wrongly credited to male artists. The dedication to researching and acknowledging women artists is crucial in rectifying historical oversights and showcasing their significant contributions to the art world.