Art historian and curator Cynthia Osiecki stumbled upon an unattributed still-life painting in an Oslo museum storeroom in 2022, sparking her suspicion that it might be a lost work by Clara Peeters, a pioneering 17th-century Flemish Baroque artist.
Osiecki, who had been researching Peeters’ art, mentioned, “We were in the process of acquiring a Clara Peeters piece, similar to many other museums seeking to collect works by female artists.”
Upon encountering the painting, Osiecki pondered the possibility of it being a long-forgotten creation by Peeters.
Despite Peeters’ significant contributions, she remains relatively obscure, much like many female artists of her time, according to Osiecki.
The National Museum of Norway aims to highlight historic female artists, with the upcoming exhibition Woman Painter in Oslo, showcasing works by 19 female artists from northern Europe and Italy between 1550 and 1650, including Peeters, Judith Leyster, Lavinia Fontana, and Artemisia Gentileschi.
Identifying the Painting
Originally thought to be by Ambrosius Brueghel, the painting, titled Still Life with Small Game and Grapes on a Gilded Tazza, was later reattributed to Peeters after a meticulous process spanning several years, as explained by Osiecki.
Peeters, known for integrating her self-portraits into objects in her works, was recognized for her early specialization in still-life painting.
The painting in Oslo features nine dead birds, hazelnuts, apricots, and grapes, with subtle hints of Peeters’ style.
Osiecki noticed distinctive elements like the tazza and the positioning of the birds within the composition, leading her to believe it was indeed a Peeters creation.