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Centuries Ignored, Wautier's Art Now Shines
26 Mar
Summary
- Michaelina Wautier's 'Triumph of Bacchus' found after centuries.
- Exhibition at London's Royal Academy highlights overlooked female artists.
- Women artists historically excluded from life-drawing classes.
Michaelina Wautier's significant painting, 'The Triumph of Bacchus' (1655-59), was discovered in a museum depot in 1993 by art historian Katlijne Van der Stighelen. The magnificent, yet unsigned, work had been ignored for centuries, with attribution issues arising due to Wautier being a woman.
Historically, women were excluded from life-drawing classes, leading to works by female artists often being unsigned and neglected. Van der Stighelen notes that this lack of documentation makes it difficult to uncover hidden signatures for works by women.
The exhibition 'Michaelina Wautier' at London's Royal Academy, opening tomorrow, is the first UK exhibition dedicated to the Flemish artist. This event is part of a larger movement to recognize and celebrate female artists who are increasingly gaining gallery space and historical acknowledgment.
This exhibition serves as a powerful reminder of past misattributions and the ongoing effort to ensure women's contributions to art history are fully recognized. The Royal Academy's showcase is the most extensive survey of Wautier's work to date.
