MICHAELINA WAUTIER
Mons 1604 - 1689 Brussels
Born in 1604 in Mons, Wautier was the only daughter in a family of nine children, and appears to have begun her career later in life, around age 39. Her brother Charles was also a painter, and the two moved to Brussels in 1645, where they both remained unmarried and shared a studio. Michaelina’s absence from the art historical canon is all the more surprising given that she worked in multiple genres: portraiture, floral still life, genre painting, and history painting. The latter was the most unusual feat for a woman artist as it was considered the genre of highest importance and typically required studying live models, from which women were barred. After her death in 1689, most of her works remained with her family. This fact, combined with a lack of documentary evidence about Michaelina, led to her paintings being incorrectly attributed to others, with her artistic impact forgotten – until a recent monographic exhibition in Antwerp in 2018 introduced her work to the public for the first time.

This recently discovered Study of a young boy turned away with a red cloak over his shoulders, turned almost in profile to the left, displays Wautier’s ability to convey both the naturalistic appearance of her subjects as well as their internal mood (estimate $60/80,000). The addition of this sensitive head study to Wautier’s oeuvre reveals the careful modeling, inventive use of color and chiaroscuro, and compassionate treatment of young subjects that earned Wautier success in her lifetime and the long overdue attention she has finally received. Wautier also excelled in other genres, including still lifes, as seen in her Garland of Flowers, Suspended Between Two Animal Skulls, A Dragonfly Above (estimate $200/300,000). Drawing inspiration from her Flemish contemporaries as well as from ancient Roman iconography, the work stands out as one of only two still lifes known by her hand.

ARTFULLY DRESSED: WOMEN IN THE ART WORLD
PORTRAITS BY CARLA VAN DE PUTTELAAR
In conjunction with The Female Triumphant, Sotheby’s is delighted to host a non-selling exhibition of contemporary portraiture by the acclaimed Dutch photographer Carla van de Puttelaar. Taken from Van de Puttelaar’s inspirational and globally recognized series from 2017, Artfully Dressed:  Women in the Art World, the exhibition features over 60 portrait photographs of prominent and promising women in the art world, including museum curators and directors, collectors, academics and art historians, gallerists, auction professionals, artists, art fair organizers, philanthropists, conservators, and journalists. The women span a wide range of backgrounds, nationalities, areas of expertise and ages but are united in their intelligence, achievements, influence and taste.

In addition to the existing works, Sotheby’s commissioned a continuation of the series featuring portraits of 30 prominent American women, including Elizabeth M. Eveillard, Chairman, Board of Trustees, The Frick Collection New York, NY; Renée Price, Director, Neue Galerie New York, NY; Rena M. De Sisto, Global Executive for Arts & Culture, Bank of America New York, NY, and Rachel Kaminsky of Rachel Kaminsky Fine Art LLC, New York, NY. For further information on this timely and exciting project, see www.womenintheartworld.com