For many centuries, the artworks of women were ignored or credited incorrectly to men. Triumph of Bacchus is a painting of great beauty that was hidden away in museum storage.
Michaelina wautier’s masterpiece, The Triumph of Bacchus, has finally been recognized with an exhibition at London’s Royal Academy.
Discovery of a Masterpiece
Katlijne van der Stighelen, an art historian from Vienna, discovered Bacchus’ Triumph in 1993. The painting was so monumental that she couldn’t believe it had gone unnoticed.
Wautier included himself in the picture defiantly. Wautier appears to the viewer on the left, with her breasts bared and in a warrior’s pose. Her presence asserts her authorship, even centuries later.
Misattributions and rediscovery
Some of the reattributions occurred only in 2020. Van der Stighelen describes Wautier today as an “exceptional, multifaceted artist”, with a variety of work that rivals Peter Paul Rubens. She has painted portraits, historical paintings, still-lifes and other genres.
Recognising and exhibiting
Triumph of Bacchus has become a key collection of the Kunsthistorisches Musem. This upcoming Royal Academy exhibition marks the UK’s first comprehensive survey of Wautier’s work. This is part of an ongoing movement that aims to restore the rightful position in art history for female artists.
