Amsterdam, a rediscovered masterpiece by Maria van Oosterwijck arrives at the Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam enriches its tour with a work of exceptional artistic and historical value: a still life by Maria van Oosterwijck (Nootdorp, 1630 - Uitdam, 1693), one of the most influential painters of the 17th century. The painting, acquired in 2023 recently restored, has been on display for two days in the Gallery of Honor and is a deeply personal work imbued with religious and symbolic meanings.

Maria van Oosterwijck is considered one of the great masters of Dutch painting, on par with Judith Leyster and Rachel Ruysch. Her art, characterized by extraordinary attention to detail and elaborate symbolic construction, earned her international recognition even during her lifetime. Her illustrious patrons included Louis XIV of France, Polish King Jan III Sobieski, Cosimo III de’ Medici, and Emperor Leopold of Austria. However, her body of work is extremely limited: there are only about 30 paintings attributed with certainty to the artist (the artist, her contemporaries recall, was slow as she was meticulous and a perfectionist), and this circumstance makes this acquisition a major event.

A work of deep spirituality

The recently acquired still life is a vanitas, a pictorial genre that invites reflection on the transience of life and the vanity of earthly riches. A refined bouquet of flowers stands out in the center of the composition, surrounded by objects laden with symbolism: a Bible, a skull, a jewelry box, and two tablets with the Ten Commandments engraved on them. The painting reflects the deep religiosity of the artist, who grew up in a devout environment-her father and grandfather were both church ministers-and was described by contemporaries as “extraordinarily religious.” The meaning of the work is made explicit by a sheet of paper in the foreground, on which Van Oosterwijck left a message for the viewer.

The acquisition of the painting was made possible through the support of the Friends’ Lottery (Vriendenloterij) and the Rijksmuseum’s Women’s Fund.

“Maria van Oosterwijck’s paintings,” says Rijksmuseum director Taco Dibbits, “are exceptionally rare because of the limited body of work she left to posterity. Only about 30 of the artist’s works have survived to this day, and this acquisition means that two are now in Dutch ownership. We are pleased that, with this painting, we can offer it the place of honor it deserves.”

Investigation and restoration

After its acquisition in 2023, the work underwent a thorough diagnostic study, which revealed the exceptional complexity of Van Oosterwijck’s creative process. The analysis revealed a large number of changes made by the artist during the course of the work, including the overpainting of an hourglass and a snake slithering through an opening in the wall. This demonstrates the great meticulousness of the painter, known for her scrupulous attention to detail.

Subsequently, a delicate restoration was undertaken, involving the removal of yellowed paint and old repainting from earlier interventions. The work was thus restored, as far as possible, to its original appearance, allowing a more authentic view of Van Oosterwijck’s extraordinary technical skill.

Women at the Rijksmuseum

The exhibition of Van Oosterwijck’s still life is part of the Women of the Rijksmuseum research project, launched in 2021 with the aim of increasing the visibility of women in museum collections. The program, supported by CHANEL since 2023, has led to the acquisition of works by numerous women artists, including Gesina ter Borch, Maria Sibylla Merian, Thérèse Schwartze, and Carrie Mae Weems.

Each year, the Rijksmuseum organizes the Women in the Museum symposium, an event dedicated to women in art and museum history. This year, the event will be held on March 4, 2025, right in conjunction with the first public exhibition of Van Oosterwijck’s painting, and will be dedicated to the theme Fabric of Fame.

The rediscovery of Van Oosterwijck’s work represents another step toward the recognition of women in art history. Through this acquisition, the Rijksmuseum not only enriches its artistic heritage, but also helps to restore the proper value to an extraordinary painter, whose talent and dedication left an important mark on 17th-century Dutch painting.

Amsterdam, a rediscovered masterpiece by Maria van Oosterwijck arrives at the Rijksmuseum

Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.