This exhibition at the Royal Academy opens with a spectacular self-portrait which shows how very confident she was as a portrait painter. A contemporary with Artemisia Gentileschi, Wautier must have been a strong character. Forging a career as a female artist was a bold thing to do. But it’s clear that she was very talented and especially interested in creating portraits, and narrative paintings which convey great character. She was based in Brussels, never married, and appears to have devoted her life to her art.

These two pictures, above, show great story-telling skills. On the left is the Mystic Marriage of St Catherine. On the right is The Education of the Virgin, a very sensitive picture of a young girl learning to read – a normal parent activity – yet it is clear that this child is destined for a special role

Where Wautier really succeeds is her very sensitively painted and characterful portraits. Clearly she had some favourite models for these paintings but the results are spectacular.

You can see the ‘Netherlandish’ influence in this painting of the annunciation. I love the rug on the table. Makes one think of those remarkable paintings by Vermeer. The show is on at the Royal Academy until 21st June 2026.