Art historian and curator Cynthia Osiecki stumbled upon an unattributed still-life painting in an Oslo museum storeroom in 2022. The painting caught her attention, leading her to suspect it might be a lost work by Clara Peeters.
Osiecki, who had been researching the pioneering 17th-century Flemish Baroque artist, expressed surprise at the possibility of having a Clara Peeters painting in the museum’s collection without prior recognition.
Despite Clara Peeters’ significant contributions to art, she remains relatively obscure to the public, much like many female artists of her time, according to Osiecki.
The National Museum of Norway aims to shine a light on historic female artists through the upcoming exhibition “Woman Painter,” featuring works by 19 female artists, including Clara Peeters, who worked in northern Europe and Italy from 1550 to 1650.
Journey to Attribute the Painting
The painting, titled “Still Life with Small Game and Grapes on a Gilded Tazza,” was initially thought to be by Ambrosius Brueghel before being reclassified as anonymous and stored away.
Through meticulous research spanning several years, Osiecki officially attributed the painting to Clara Peeters, noting the artist’s unique style of embedding self-portraits in her works.
The painting showcases nine dead birds, hazelnuts, apricots, and distinctive elements characteristic of Peeters’ artistry.
Despite challenges like woodworm damage obscuring Peeters’ signature, Osiecki’s team’s efforts confirmed the painting’s true artist. The piece will be highlighted at the forthcoming exhibition.
Nora Ceciliedatter, director of collections and exhibitions at the National Museum of Norway, emphasized the exhibition’s role in showcasing underrepresented artistic perspectives.
Osiecki stressed the importance of continued research to uncover overlooked female artists’ contributions, reflecting on the significance of recognizing and attributing their works.