Clara Peeters

Clara Peeters zaalzicht Expo ZeldzaamOnmisbaar_© Jeroen Broeckx
Clara Peeters zaalzicht Expo ZeldzaamOnmisbaar_© Jeroen Broeckx
Terwijl de barok bloeit, tilt Clara Peeters (ca. 1587 - na 1637) het stilleven naar een hoger niveau. Deze pionier onder de Vlaamse Meesters wordt dan al wereldwijd geapprecieerd. Je ontdekt het werk van deze tijdgenote van Peter Paul Rubens in haar thuisstad Antwerpen.

Koningin van het stilleven

In de 17de eeuw viert de barok hoogtij in Antwerpen. Grootheden als Peter Paul Rubens en Antoon van Dyck zijn exponenten van die weelderige periode. Ook Clara Peeters, de koningin van het stilleven, hoort in dat rijtje thuis. Ze leeft en werkt in Antwerpen. Waarschijnlijk is ze een leerlinge van Osias Beert, een bekende stillevensschilder.  

Maar Clara Peeters is meer dan dat. Al snel wordt ze zelf een pionier in de ontwikkeling van het stilleven als genre. Als geen ander brengt ze het alledaagse tot leven. Dat begint voorzichtig met kleine, gedetailleerde taferelen van spijs en drank. Daarin toont ze al een enorme vaardigheid. Later evolueren haar stillevens naar meer rijkelijke composities met waardevolle voorwerpen zoals versierde metalen bekers, gouden munten en exotische bloemen.  

Later in haar carrière schildert ze uitgebreide banketscènes met kleurrijke bloemboeketten, zacht brood, glibberige vis, glanzend porselein en reflecterend glas. Heel typisch voor Clara Peeters is dat ze er vaak een miniatuurzelfportret aan toevoegt, bijvoorbeeld in de reflectie van een kan. 

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

Internationale waardering

Van Parijs tot Londen, van Hamburg tot Brussel. Na haar overlijden vindt Peeters’ werk zijn weg over heel Europa. Haar stillevens maken dan al deel uit van de bloeiende Antwerpse exporteconomie van schilderijen.  

Clara Peeters - detail Bloemen in een vaasje met knabbelende muis - collectie Museum Mayer van den Bergh_© Ans Brys
Clara Peeters - detail Bloemen in een vaasje met knabbelende muis

Clara Peeters in Vlaanderen

Vandaag zijn er een veertigtal werken van Clara Peeters bekend. Je vindt haar werk over heel de wereld, maar in Antwerpen leer je haar het best kennen.

Clara Peeters - Detail Bloemen in een vaasje met sprinkhaan en kikvors - collectie Museum Mayer van den Bergh_© Ans Brys
Clara Peeters - Detail Bloemen in een vaasje met sprinkhaan en kikvors - collectie Museum Mayer van den Bergh_© Ans Brys
Clara Peeters_© Museum Mayer van den Bergh Antwerpen - Foto Thijs de Lange
Clara Peeters_© Museum Mayer van den Bergh Antwerpen - Foto Thijs de Lange
Clara Peeters_© Museum Mayer van den Bergh Antwerpen - Foto Thijs de Lange
Clara Peeters_© Museum Mayer van den Bergh Antwerpen - Foto Thijs de Lange

Ontdek ook

Catharina van Hemessen Portret van een jonge dame met haar hond Collectie Vlaamse Gemeenschap
(c) Museum Snijders&Rockox foto C Verhelst public domain

Catharina van Hemessen

Catharina van Hemessen is een pionier in de Europese kunsten. Je ontdekt het indrukwekkende oeuvre van de talentvolle schildersdochter in Brussel en Antwerpen.

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