Long-Lost Painting by Artemisia Gentileschi Found in UK Royal Collection

Discover how a forgotten masterpiece by Artemisia Gentileschi was found in the UK’s Royal Collection after a century. 

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.

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?