Overview

Active in Brussels in the middle of the 17th century, Michaelina Wautier is now regarded as one of the foremost female artists of her time, although for many years her work was misattributed to her male contemporaries. Continually pushing boundaries as a female artist, Wautier exhibited an in-depth knowledge of classical mythology and was one of the first female painters to depict the male nude. Her body of work includes huge altarpieces, charming genre scenes and extraordinary flower garlands, as well as portraits and history paintings. In this book, the first illustrated monograph on the artist, leading Wautier expert Katlijne Van der Stighelen highlights Wautier’s originality and the complexity of her oeuvre. Considering how Wautier navigated restricting gender norms to stake out a productive career as a painter, the author places her work in the context of other European artists, both female and male. Incorporating recently discovered biographical information, this volume offers a comprehensive and in-depth overview of Michaelina Wautier’s life and work.

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9781848227392

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Katlijne Van der Stighelen is a retired Full Professor at KU Leuven and is the author of the exhibition catalogue Michaelina Wautier (1604-1689): Glorifying a Forgotten Talent (Rubenshuis-BAI, Antwerp, 2018). She is also one of the editors and authors of the catalogue of the exhibition Michaelina Wautier in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna (2025–2026) and The Royal Academy in London (2026).

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