Michaelina Wautier

This forgotten figure of the Flemish Golden Age challenged the codes of the 17th century to establish herself among the greatest masters of her time. Long remaining in the shadows, with her masterpieces often attributed to men, she is distinguished by a rare technical boldness. She brilliantly tackled monumental historical scenes and portraits with a disturbing psychological realism, domains then reserved for her male colleagues. The Royal Academy sheds light on this creative genius through a selection of masterful works where the finesse of the line meets a virtuoso handling of light. From March 27 to June 21, 2026, this event marks the first British retrospective dedicated to this pioneering Brussels artist. It is an essential rehabilitation that allows us to appreciate the scope of an extraordinary career, finally doing justice to a major artist unjustly erased by history.