In a surprising turn of events, a lost painting by Clara Peeters was discovered tucked away in a museum’s storage room. Art historian Cynthia Osiecki stumbled upon the unattributed still-life painting in an Oslo museum in 2022. Osiecki, who had been delving into the works of the pioneering 17th-century Flemish Baroque artist, suspected that the painting could be a long-lost creation by Peeters.
The painting, titled “Still Life with Small Game and Grapes on a Gilded Tazza,” was initially thought to be the work of Ambrosius Brueghel but was later labeled as “anonymous” and stored away. After several years of meticulous research and analysis, Osiecki officially reattributed the piece to Peeters.
Peeters, one of the earliest specialists in still-life painting during her time, was known for incorporating subtle self-portraits in her works. The Oslo painting features nine dead birds, hazelnuts, apricots, and grapes that caught Osiecki’s attention. Despite challenges such as woodworm damage obscuring Peeters’ signature, Osiecki’s persistence paid off as the painting was confirmed to be Peeters’ creation.
The National Museum of Norway will showcase the painting in an exhibition called “Woman Painter,” shedding light on historic female artists from the 16th and 17th centuries. This discovery underscores the importance of continuing efforts to uncover and recognize the contributions of overlooked female artists throughout history.