During a search in an Oslo museum storeroom in 2022, art historian Cynthia Osiecki stumbled upon an unattributed still-life painting. Osiecki, who had been researching Clara Peeters, a 17th-century Flemish Baroque artist, suspected the painting could be a lost work by Peeters.
Osiecki expressed her surprise at the possibility of having a Clara Peeters painting in the museum’s storage while actively seeking works by female artists in the art market.
Although Clara Peeters is a pioneering artist, she remains relatively unknown to the general public, similar to many female artists of her time, according to Osiecki.
The National Museum of Norway is highlighting historic female artists in the upcoming exhibition, “Woman Painter,” featuring works by 19 female artists from northern Europe and Italy, including Judith Leyster, Lavinia Fontana, Artemisia Gentileschi, and Clara Peeters.
Painstaking Process of Attributing the Painting
The painting, titled “Still Life with Small Game and Grapes on a Gilded Tazza,” was originally thought to be by Ambrosius Brueghel but later reattributed to Clara Peeters after years of research by Osiecki.
Osiecki’s discovery of the painting revealed clues such as Peeters’ unique style of embedding self-portraits in her artworks, asserting her identity in a male-dominated art world.
The painting features dead birds, hazelnuts, apricots, and grapes, which led to the reattribution to Peeters. Despite challenges like woodworm damage obscuring Peeters’ signature, thorough research confirmed her as the painter.
Nora Ceciliedatter, director of collections and exhibitions at the National Museum of Norway, emphasized the importance of showcasing underrepresented artists like Peeters in the “Woman Painter” exhibition.
Osiecki’s dedication to uncovering female artists’ contributions highlights the ongoing need to recognize and celebrate women artists in art history.
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