During a routine exploration of an Oslo museum’s storage in 2022, art historian and curator Cynthia Osiecki stumbled upon an uncredited still-life painting. Recognizing familiar elements, Osiecki suspected the piece could be by Clara Peeters, a renowned 17th-century Flemish Baroque artist.
Osiecki explained, “As we were in pursuit of a Clara Peeters piece, like many other museums seeking works by female artists, the discovery was almost too good to be true.” The painting, titled Still Life with Small Game and Grapes on a Gilded Tazza, was initially attributed to Ambrosius Brueghel before being labeled “anonymous” and stored away.
Years of meticulous research and comparison led Osiecki to confirm the painting as a Peeters original, despite challenges such as woodworm damage obscuring potential signatures. The artwork, featuring nine dead birds, hazelnuts, apricots, and distinctive elements characteristic of Peeters’ style, will take center stage at an upcoming exhibition.
Peeters, known for embedding subtle self-portraits into her works, used symbolic elements like grapes and unique object placements to assert her professional identity in a male-dominated art world.
The National Museum of Norway’s upcoming exhibition, Woman Painter, aims to shed light on historic female artists, including Peeters, to rectify their underrepresentation in art history.
Osiecki emphasized the importance of ongoing research to unveil overlooked female artists and attributed works correctly, stating, “Exploring women artists’ contributions is crucial in uncovering hidden treasures and honoring their artistic legacies.”
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