Clara Peeters

Clara Peeters zaalzicht Expo ZeldzaamOnmisbaar_© Jeroen Broeckx
Clara Peeters zaalzicht Expo ZeldzaamOnmisbaar_© Jeroen Broeckx
Mentre il barocco è in pieno splendore, Clara Peeters (ca. 1587 - dopo il 1637) eleva la natura morta a un livello superiore. Pioniera tra i Maestri Fiamminghi viene apprezzata in tutto il mondo. Scopri l'opera di questa contemporanea di Peter Paul Rubens nella sua città natale, Anversa.

Regina della natura morta

Nel XVII secolo il barocco raggiunge il suo apice ad Anversa. Grandi artisti come Peter Paul Rubens e Anthony van Dyck sono esponenti di quel periodo sfarzoso. Anche Clara Peeters, la regina della natura morta, fa parte di questo esclusivo gruppo. Vive e lavora ad Anversa ed è probabilmente un'allieva di Osias Beert, un noto pittore di nature morte.    

Ma Clara Peeters è molto di più. Ben presto diventa lei stessa una pioniera nello sviluppo della natura morta in quanto genere, riuscendo, come nessun altro, a dare vita alla quotidianità. Inizia con cautela con piccole scene dettagliate di cibo e bevande, in cui dimostra una grande abilità. Più tardi, le sue nature morte si evolvono in composizioni più ricche con oggetti di valore come coppe di metallo decorate, monete d'oro e fiori esotici.    

Nella fase avanzata della sua carriera, dipinge elaborate scene di banchetti con bouquet di fiori riccamente colorati, pane soffice, pesci scivolosi, porcellana lucida e vetro riflettente. Una caratteristica tipica di Clara Peeters è quella di aggiungere spesso un autoritratto in miniatura, ad esempio nel riflesso di una brocca. 

Clara Peeters, Stilleven met vis, inv.nr. 834, foto Hugo Maertens, Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen - Collectie V_© Fille Roelants
Clara Peeters, Stilleven met vis, inv.nr. 834, foto Hugo Maertens, Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen - Collectie V_© Fille Roelants

Riconoscimento internazionale

Da Parigi a Londra, da Amburgo a Bruxelles. Dopo la sua morte, l'opera di Peeters si diffonde in tutta Europa. A quel tempo, le sue nature morte fanno già parte della fiorente economia di esportazione di dipinti di Anversa.  

Clara Peeters - detail Bloemen in een vaasje met knabbelende muis - collectie Museum Mayer van den Bergh_© Ans Brys
Clara Peeters – dettaglio di Fiori in un vaso con un topo che rosicchia

Clara Peeters nelle Fiandre

Oggi si conoscono circa 40 opere di Clara Peeters. Sebbene siano sparse in tutto il mondo, è ad Anversa che la sua impronta è più evidente. 

  • Al Museo Reale delle Belle Arti di Anversa (KMSKA) è possibile ammirare il suo capolavoro Natura morta con pesce. Data la loro fama, i capolavori fiamminghi sono spesso all’estero, ma tornano sempre a casa nelle Fiandre. Attualmente, ”Natura morta con pesce” è in giro per il mondo nell'ambito di una mostra dedicata alle donne artiste. Nel giugno 2026 tornerà al KMSKA. 

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