During a routine exploration of an Oslo museum’s storage area in 2022, art historian and curator Cynthia Osiecki stumbled upon a still-life painting without attribution. Osiecki, who had been delving into the works of Clara Peeters, a groundbreaking 17th-century Flemish Baroque artist, felt a strong connection to the piece.
Osiecki shared, “We were in the process of acquiring a Clara Peeters artwork, as many museums are currently focusing on acquiring pieces by female artists.” The unexpected discovery sparked Osiecki’s suspicion that the painting might be a lost creation by Peeters.
Reflecting on Peeters’ lack of recognition compared to her male counterparts, Osiecki emphasized the importance of shedding light on historic female artists. This sentiment aligns with the upcoming exhibition, “Woman Painter,” at the National Museum of Norway, showcasing works by 19 female artists from the 16th and 17th centuries.
Thorough Analysis Leads to Reattribution
The painting, originally thought to be by Ambrosius Brueghel and later categorized as anonymous, was eventually identified as Peeters’ work, titled Still Life with Small Game and Grapes on a Gilded Tazza, after a meticulous investigative process spanning several years.
Osiecki’s keen observation skills were instrumental in recognizing distinct elements in the painting that aligned with Peeters’ style. Notably, Peeters’ practice of incorporating small self-portraits in reflective surfaces of objects and her preference for including specific items such as the tazza were key indicators of her authorship.
Despite challenges like woodworm damage obscuring Peeters’ signature, Osiecki and her team persevered in comparing the painting with known works to confirm its attribution to Peeters. The artwork is now slated to be a highlight of the upcoming exhibition.
Nora Ceciliedatter, the director of collections and exhibitions at the National Museum of Norway, emphasized the exhibition’s role in showcasing historically marginalized artistic perspectives. Osiecki sees the painting’s journey back to Peeters as a testament to the ongoing effort needed to uncover overlooked female artists and rectify attribution errors.
Osiecki expressed, “Continued research into female artists is crucial. By dedicating time and resources to this endeavor, we unearth more of their works, correcting past oversights and acknowledging their valuable contributions.”
Tag: rewrite-pending
