A hidden masterpiece by the overlooked female artist Clara Peeters was recently unearthed in a storage room at a museum in Oslo. Art historian Cynthia Osiecki, who was researching Peeters’ work, stumbled upon the painting titled “Still Life with Small Game and Grapes on a Gilded Tazza” and suspected it could be attributed to Peeters.
Despite Clara Peeters’ significant contributions to art, she remains relatively obscure to the general public, much like many female artists of her time. To shed light on historic female artists, the National Museum of Norway is showcasing an exhibition titled “Woman Painter,” featuring works by 19 female artists from northern Europe and Italy, including Peeters.
The painting in question was initially believed to be by Ambrosius Brueghel but was later reclassified as anonymous and stored away. Osiecki’s meticulous research and keen eye led to the reattribution of the piece to Peeters, a process that spanned several years.
Clara Peeters was known for embedding subtle self-portraits in her works, asserting her professional identity in a male-dominated art world. The Oslo painting includes intricate details like dead birds, hazelnuts, apricots, and distinctive elements characteristic of Peeters’ style.
Despite challenges like woodworm damage obscuring Peeters’ signature, Osiecki and her team painstakingly compared the painting with other works to confirm Peeters as the true artist. The piece is now set to be a highlight of the upcoming exhibition.
Nora Ceciliedatter, the director of collections and exhibitions at the National Museum of Norway, emphasized the importance of bringing visibility to underrepresented artists like Peeters. Osiecki believes that continued research into female artists is crucial to uncovering more overlooked masterpieces and giving them the recognition they deserve.