'The greatest artistic rediscovery of the century' Michaelina Wautier

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Artnet refer to her as 'The greatest artistic rediscovery of the century.'

Like all the press there, I arrived at this exhibition not knowing Michaelina Wautier — and left questioning how she had been overlooked for so long.

At the Royal Academy of Arts for The Art Review, I encountered a remarkable artist working in 17th-century Brussels, who challenged the limits placed on women by painting across portraiture, still life, and monumental history scenes — a scale rarely afforded to female artists of her time.

In her monumental Triumph of Bacchus, Wautier places herself within the composition, meeting the viewer’s gaze with striking confidence — a powerful assertion of artistic identity in the 17th century.

Her work is ambitious, assured, and deeply compelling.

This exhibition puts Wautier back in her rightful place as one of Europe’s most important artists, establishing her as “the greatest artistic rediscovery of the century” (Artnet).

At the same time, the Royal Academy presents Rose Wylie — a contemporary artist who has similarly forged her own path, on her own terms.

Two trailblazing women artists.Centuries apart.

The exhibition runs until 26 June.

Had you come across Michaelina Wautier before this exhibition?

And more broadly — are we only now beginning to fully recognise the contribution of women artists across history?

Cheers

James

James Nicholls