history
Unsigned and neglected: These artworks are by women – but men got the credit
www.bbc.com · Mar 26, 2026
For centuries, a breathtaking secret lay buried in the cold shadows of museum storage, hidden by a name that wasn\\\'t hers.
From defiant, bare-breasted warriors to a phallic \\\"God\\\" made of plumbing, these masterpieces were stolen by the men who stood nearby.
While experts claimed a woman’s hand could never reach such heights, a hidden \\\"JL\\\" and a courtroom showdown proved them wrong.
Now, the veil is finally lifting at the Royal Academy, exposing the brilliant \\\"lost\\\" masters of the brush who refused to be silent.
What happens when the signature on a world-famous canvas is scrubbed away to reveal the truth of a forgotten genius?
Step into the light of Michaelina Wautier’s long-awaited triumph and discover the groundbreaking women who are reclaiming their stolen thrones.