Discover how a forgotten masterpiece by Artemisia Gentileschi was found in the UK’s Royal Collection after a century.
Key Takeaways
- A long-lost painting by Artemisia Gentileschi, an Italian Baroque artist, has been found in the UK's Royal Collection.
- The painting, named "Susanna and the Elders," was hidden away for over 100 years and was wrongly labeled as a work of the “French School.”
- The rediscovered artwork has undergone restoration and is now on public display at Windsor Castle.
The Astonishing Find in a Royal Storage Room
Hey, guess what? A masterpiece that was missing for over a century has just been found! This isn’t just any old painting—it’s by Artemisia Gentileschi, a big name in Italian Baroque art. This artwork, named “Susanna and the Elders,” used to hang right over the Queen’s own fireplace. Can you believe it was collecting dust in a storage room at Hampton Court Palace for more than 100 years?
The Backstory
Artemisia Gentileschi was no ordinary artist. She was a powerful force in a time when the art world was pretty much a boys’ club. Anna Reynolds, who’s in charge of looking after the King’s art collection, said Artemisia’s paintings are as strong and focused as she was. And now, her work “Susanna and the Elders,” which she made while working in London in the 1630s, is back in the spotlight.
Discover how a forgotten masterpiece by Artemisia Gentileschi was found in the UK’s Royal Collection after a century.
How the Painting Was Rediscovered
So, how did this hidden gem come to light? Art historian Niko Munz and a team were poking around, looking for paintings that had gone missing or were sold after King Charles I lost his head—literally, he was executed in 1649. What they found was this masterpiece, wrongly labeled and in pretty bad shape. But hey, they knew what they had and got right to work fixing it up.
The Proof is in the Details
If you’re wondering how they knew it was a real Artemisia, here’s the cool part. They found the initials “CR” on the back, short for “Carolus Rex,” which means King Charles in Latin. Yep, this painting was legit, and it even has a royal history. Records show it was ordered by the king’s wife, Henrietta Maria, around 1638-39.
A Painting with Royal Connections
Niko Munz said one of the best parts is that this painting was made for Queen Henrietta Maria when she was expecting a baby. It used to hang in a special room where she’d chill out and have private chats. After it was found, it was cleaned up and put on display at Windsor Castle, near London.
Artemisia’s Growing Fame
Artemisia was one of the few well-known female artists back in the 17th century. These days, she’s getting even more attention. In fact, another one of her works was sold at an auction earlier this year. The National Gallery in London even bought one of her self-portraits in 2018.
The Painting’s New Home
If you’re around London, you can now see this masterpiece at Windsor Castle. It’s displayed alongside another self-portrait by Artemisia and a painting by her dad. Isn’t it great when a lost treasure finds its way back home?
