In a surprising turn of events, a painting by Clara Peeters was recently unearthed in the storage room of a museum in Oslo by art historian and curator Cynthia Osiecki. The discovery took place in 2022 when Osiecki, who had been researching the renowned 17th-century Flemish Baroque artist, stumbled upon an unattributed still-life painting while searching for a work by Peeters.
The painting, titled “Still Life with Small Game and Grapes on a Gilded Tazza,” was initially thought to be by Ambrosius Brueghel before being labeled as anonymous and stored away. However, after years of meticulous investigation, Osiecki was able to reattribute the artwork to Peeters.
Peeters, known for her innovative still-life compositions, often included hidden self-portraits in her works as a way to assert her professional identity in a male-dominated art world. The painting discovered in Oslo features nine dead birds, hazelnuts, apricots, and distinct elements characteristic of Peeters’ style, such as the tazza vessel and unique bird placements within the composition.
Despite challenges like woodworm damage obscuring Peeters’ signature on the painting, Osiecki’s persistent research, aided by the museum’s conservator, confirmed the true artist behind the piece. The unveiling of the painting is scheduled to be a highlight of the upcoming “Woman Painter” exhibition at the National Museum of Norway, showcasing works by historic female artists including Peeters.
The exhibition aims to shed light on the often-overlooked contributions of women artists throughout history. Osiecki emphasizes the importance of ongoing research to uncover and properly attribute artworks by female artists, as many pieces remain unidentified or wrongly credited to male artists. The journey to reclaim Peeters’ lost masterpiece underscores the need for continued efforts to recognize and celebrate female artists’ legacies.