A hidden treasure, a painting by Clara Peeters, was recently discovered in an Oslo museum’s storage by art historian and curator Cynthia Osiecki. The piece, initially thought to be by Ambrosius Brueghel, was reclassified as “anonymous” and stored away. However, after a meticulous process spanning several years, Osiecki officially attributed the painting to Peeters.

Clara Peeters, a pioneering 17th-century Flemish Baroque artist, is not widely known to the public despite her groundbreaking work. To shed light on historic female artists like Peeters, the National Museum of Norway is holding an exhibition titled “Woman Painter,” showcasing works by 19 female artists from northern Europe and Italy between 1550 and 1650.

In the discovered painting, titled “Still Life with Small Game and Grapes on a Gilded Tazza,” Osiecki found subtle clues characteristic of Peeters’ style. Peeters was known for incorporating her likeness into objects in her paintings, asserting her professional identity in a male-dominated art world. The Oslo painting features dead birds, hazelnuts, apricots, and grapes, among other details that led to its reattribution.

Despite challenges like woodworm damage obscuring Peeters’ signature, Osiecki and her team methodically studied Peeters’ works and those of her contemporaries to confirm the painting’s true artist. The painting is now set to be showcased at the upcoming exhibition.

Nora Ceciliedatter, director of collections and exhibitions at the National Museum of Norway, emphasizes the importance of bringing visibility to underrepresented artists like Peeters. Osiecki believes that continued research into female artists is crucial to uncovering more overlooked contributions.

The journey of this painting back to Clara Peeters exemplifies the ongoing effort required to recognize and celebrate female artists whose works have been marginalized or forgotten.