Michaelina Wautier, Saint John the Evangelist, c.1656–59. The Parity Project.
Michaelina Wauter (1614-1689) is the subject of a major exhibition, opening at the Royal Academy of Arts on 27 March. Join Clare Ford-Wille with ARTscapades to explore the innovative and always exciting paintings by this hugely successful 17th-century Flemish artist whose life and work almost sank into oblivion after her death and was only rediscovered recently.
Study Evening includes two lectures, Q&A and a short break. Tickets £20
The exhibition reveals Michaelina Wautier as a major artist of her time, whose work ranged from highly individual portraits, intriguing studies of saints such as that of St. Joseph and major mythological compositions, including the Triumph of Bacchus, in which Michaelina depicts herself as a bacchante staring directly at the spectator. Exquisite flower pieces and ground-breaking tronies link her with new ideas of the period. The exhibition also includes works by her brother Charles Wautier and her contemporaries Peter Paul Rubens and David Teniers the Younger.
This Study Evening explores her life and work, struggles and successes chronologically, concentrating on her trailblazing paintings of great technical virtuosity; so often in the past attributed to male artists or unfairly languishing in museum storerooms.
Lecture One
The first lecture delves into what is known of Wautier’s life, her birth in Mons, her arrival in Brussels, training, probably with her brother, Charles.
Lecture Two
The second lecture will examine her mature career and make comparisons with other female contemporary artists, such as the Dutch artists, Judith Leyster and Rachel Ruysch.
Michaelina Wautier is at the Royal Academy of Arts from 27 May to 21 June 2026.
This event will be recorded. Ticket holders are emailed a link to view the recording afterwards which is available for one month. Proceeds from ARTscapades ticket sales benefit museums, galleries and other arts-based organisations and projects.
This is an online event hosted on Zoom which can be watched live with Q&A, or on-demand for one month afterwards. You will receive your link to access the event in your email confirmation and the on-demand link after the event ends.