A painting by Clara Peeters, a 17th-century Flemish Baroque artist, was discovered in storage at an Oslo museum by art historian and curator Cynthia Osiecki in 2022. Osiecki suspected the unattributed still-life painting could be the elusive work of Peeters, a pioneering female artist often overshadowed by her male counterparts. The piece, initially thought to be by Ambrosius Brueghel, was reclassified as anonymous before its recent reattribution to Peeters after a meticulous investigation spanning several years.
Known for her intricate still-life paintings, Peeters incorporated subtle self-portraits into reflective surfaces within her works, asserting her professional identity in a male-dominated art world. The Oslo painting, titled “Still Life with Small Game and Grapes on a Gilded Tazza,” features nine dead birds, hazelnuts, apricots, and distinctive elements characteristic of Peeters’ style, such as the depiction of a tazza and unique bird placement.
Despite challenges like woodworm damage obscuring Peeters’ signature on the painting, Osiecki’s team’s thorough analysis and comparison of Peeters’ other works confirmed her authorship. The painting will be showcased at the National Museum of Norway’s upcoming exhibition, “Woman Painter,” highlighting works by historic female artists from the 16th and 17th centuries, including Peeters.
Nora Ceciliedatter, the museum’s director of collections and exhibitions, emphasized the importance of showcasing underrepresented artists like Peeters. Osiecki underscored the significance of ongoing research to uncover and properly attribute works by female artists, shedding light on their overlooked contributions to art history. The discovery of Peeters’ painting underscores the need for continued efforts to recognize and elevate women artists in the art world.