“Lost Clara Peeters Masterpiece Found in Museum Storage”

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As It Happens6:42Hiding in plain sight: A lost masterpiece by an overlooked female artist discovered in a museum’s storage

During a routine exploration of a museum storeroom in Oslo in 2022, art historian Cynthia Osiecki stumbled upon an unidentified still-life painting that piqued her interest due to its resemblance to works by Clara Peeters, a renowned 17th-century Flemish Baroque artist.

Osiecki, engaged in the pursuit of acquiring works by women artists, speculated that the piece might be a forgotten creation by Peeters.

Despite Peeters’ significant contributions, she remains relatively obscure, much like many female artists of her time, according to Osiecki.

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To shed light on historic female artists, the National Museum of Norway is launching an exhibition titled Woman Painter in Oslo on Oct. 8, featuring works by 19 female artists from northern Europe and Italy between 1550 and 1650, including Peeters.

Identifying the Painting

Initially believed to be crafted by Ambrosius Brueghel, the painting, titled Still Life with Small Game and Grapes on a Gilded Tazza, was reclassified as anonymous and stored away. Following a meticulous process, Osiecki confirmed the piece’s true attribution to Peeters after several years of examination.

Peeters, an early specialist in still-life painting, incorporated subtle self-portraits in her works, signifying her professional identity in a male-dominated art world.

The painting includes nine dead birds, hazelnuts, apricots, and distinctive elements characteristic of Peeters’ style, such as a tazza and bird placement.

Despite challenges like woodworm damage obscuring Peeters’ signature, thorough research and comparison with other works affirmed Peeters as the artist behind the painting.

The piece will be prominently displayed at the upcoming exhibition.

Nora Ceciliedatter, director of collections and exhibitions at the National Museum of Norway, views the Woman Painter exhibition as part of a broader initiative to highlight underrepresented artistic perspectives.

Osiecki emphasizes the importance of continued efforts to uncover overlooked female artists, stressing the need for extensive research to recognize their contributions.