In a surprising turn of events, a painting believed to be by Clara Peeters was discovered tucked away in a storage room at an Oslo museum by art historian and curator Cynthia Osiecki in 2022. Osiecki, who had been researching the renowned 17th-century Flemish Baroque artist, identified the unattributed still-life painting and suspected it might be a lost work by Peeters.
The piece, titled “Still Life with Small Game and Grapes on a Gilded Tazza,” was initially thought to be created by Ambrosius Brueghel before being labeled as “anonymous” and stored away. Through meticulous examination and analysis spanning several years, Osiecki managed to reattribute the painting to Peeters, a process that began with her astute observations of unique characteristics in the artwork.
Peeters, known for her specialization in still-life painting and subtle inclusion of self-portraits in her works, utilized clever techniques to assert her identity in a male-dominated art world. The Oslo painting features nine dead birds, hazelnuts, apricots, and grapes, showcasing Peeters’ distinct style and attention to detail.
Despite challenges such as woodworm damage obscuring Peeters’ signature, Osiecki and her team persevered in confirming the artist’s identity through extensive research and comparison with other works. The painting is now slated to be a highlight of an upcoming exhibition at the National Museum of Norway, showcasing the works of historic female artists, including Peeters.
The discovery underscores the importance of shedding light on overlooked female artists and rectifying historical misattributions. Osiecki emphasizes the significance of continued research into women artists to unearth their valuable contributions and ensure their rightful place in art history.
The upcoming exhibition, “Woman Painter,” is part of a broader initiative at the museum to amplify the voices of underrepresented artists and provide a platform for their artistic legacies to be recognized and celebrated.