Peter van Dievoet (; Dutch: ''Peeter van Dievoet'', French: ''Pierre van Dievoet'',

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

: ''Petrus''; 16611729) was a Flemish Baroque sculptor, statuary, wood carver and designer of ornamental architectural elements active in Brussels and England. He is known for his work on a number of the

Baroque The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...

guild houses on the

Grand-Place The (French language, French, ; "Grand Square"; also used in English) or (Dutch language, Dutch, ; "Big Market") is the central Town square, square of Brussels, Belgium. It is surrounded by opulent Baroque architecture, Baroque guildhalls of ...

(Brussels's main square), which was rebuilt after the bombardment of 1695, as well as on the Statue of James II on

Trafalgar Square Trafalgar Square ( ) is a public square in the City of Westminster in Central London. It was established in the early-19th century around the area formerly known as Charing Cross. Its name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, the Royal Navy, ...

, London, made in collaboration with fellow Flemish sculptor Laurens van der Meulen.

Horace Walpole Horatio Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford (; 24 September 1717 – 2 March 1797), better known as Horace Walpole, was an English Whig politician, writer, historian and antiquarian. He had Strawberry Hill House built in Twickenham, southwest London ...

, ''Anecdotes of painting in England: with some account of the principal artists; and incidental notes on other arts; collected by the late Mr.

George Vertue George Vertue (1684 – 24 July 1756) was an English engraver and antiquary, whose notebooks on British art of the first half of the 18th century are a valuable source for the period. Life Vertue was born in 1684 in St Martin-in-the-Fields ...

; and now digested and published from his original MSS. by Mr.

'', London, 1765, vol. III, p. 91 : "Gibbons had several disciples and workmen; Selden I have mentioned; Watson assisted chiefly at Chatsworth, where the boys and many of the ornaments in the chapel were executed by him. Dievot of Brussels, and Laurens of Mechlin were principal journeymen — Vertue says they modelled and cast the statue I have mentioned in the privy-garden". According to David Green, in ''Grinling Gibbons, his work as carver and statuary'' (London, 1964), one Smooke sayd to Vertue that this statue "was modelled and made by Laurence and Devoot ic;

, ''Note Books'', ed. Walpole Society, Oxford, 1930-47, vol. I, p.82 : "Lawrence. Dyvoet. statuarys", and ''ibidem'' IV, 50 : "Laurens a statuary of Mechlin... Dievot a statuary of Brussels both these artists were in England and assisted Mr. Gibbons in statuary works in K. Charles 2d. and K. James 2d. time, they left England in the troubles of the Revolution and retird to their own country". He was the half-brother of Philippe van Dievoet,

goldsmith A goldsmith is a Metalworking, metalworker who specializes in working with gold and other precious metals. Modern goldsmiths mainly specialize in jewelry-making but historically, they have also made cutlery, silverware, platter (dishware), plat ...

to King Louis XIV of France and the uncle of the Parisian printer Guillaume Vandive.

Life

Early years

Peter van Dievoet was born in

Brussels Brussels, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) is a Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium#Regions, region of Belgium comprising #Municipalit ...

as the son of Gillis van Dievoet (? - † before 1672), a burgher of Brussels, and Gertrudis Zeevaert. He was baptised at the Church of St. Michael and St. Gudula (now Brussels' cathedral) on 29 June 1661. His father was previously married to Catarina Slachmeulder (or Catharina Slachmoelders), whose son Philippe van Dievoet later became a goldsmith to King Louis XIV of France. The young Peter became fatherless around the age of twelve or thirteen. His mother later remarried and died on 22 July 1705. James II Trafalgar Square right side

Study for a statue probably of Charles II or James II attributed to Peter Van Dievoet 03

Residence in London (1680–1688)

He moved at some unknown date to England where he was a collaborator in the studio of (

Rotterdam Rotterdam ( , ; ; ) is the second-largest List of cities in the Netherlands by province, city in the Netherlands after the national capital of Amsterdam. It is in the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of South Holland, part of the North S ...

-born) English sculptor Grinling Gibbons from 1680 to 1688. Gibbons was mainly known as a sculptor for his fine carvings of floral motifs. Other experienced Flemish sculptors such as Artus Quellinus III (the son of Artus Quellinus II), John Nost, Anthony Verhuke and Laurens van der Meulen also worked in Gibbon's London workshop as "servants", i.e. collaborators. As these Flemish artists were not trainees they were never entered in the Draper's records.David Esterly, ''Grinling Gibbons and the Art of Carving''
Harry N. Abrams, 30 April 2013, pp. 45, 176, 209, 219224 Van Dievoet's English production (mainly sculptures) remains relatively unknown. In the Gibbons workshop he worked on various commissions but the contributions of the various artists active in the workshop are not always identifiable.

mentions van Dievoet only as statuary. George Vertue found an agreement and a payment receipt for the bronze statue of James II (1686) made for the courtyard of

Whitehall Whitehall is a road and area in the City of Westminster, Central London, England. The road forms the first part of the A roads in Zone 3 of the Great Britain numbering scheme, A3212 road from Trafalgar Square to Chelsea, London, Chelsea. It ...

and currently placed on

. Vertue attributed this work to a collaboration between van Dievoet and a certain Laurens of

Mechelen Mechelen (; ; historically known as ''Mechlin'' in EnglishMechelen has been known in English as ''Mechlin'', from where the adjective ''Mechlinian'' is derived. This name may still be used, especially in a traditional or historical context. T ...

. Margaret Whinney notes that this statue does not have an English but rather a continental character and gives it the same attribution: "two Flemings, Laurens of Mechelen and Dievot of Brussels (sic), were employed to model and make it." This attribution is repeated by Sir Lionel Henri Cust: "Dyvoet (sic) ... and Laurens ... who executed the statue of James II at Whitehall." The aforementioned ''Laurens'' was identified by Paul-Eugène Claessens as the Flemish sculptor Laurens van der Meulen from

. Some studies for statues of probably Charles II or James II held in the British Museum are attributed to van Dievoet. A bronze statuette of James II in the collection of the V&A, previously attributed only to Artus Quellinus III, has had its attribution changed in 2023 to possibly being by the hand of van Dievoet.

Return to Brussels (1689–1729)

He returned to Brussels as a result of the events arising from the

Glorious Revolution The Glorious Revolution, also known as the Revolution of 1688, was the deposition of James II and VII, James II and VII in November 1688. He was replaced by his daughter Mary II, Mary II and her Dutch husband, William III of Orange ...

of 1688, which had led to the deposition of the English King. In 1695, he became master of the ''Quatre-Couronnés'' at Brussels, the

guild A guild ( ) is an association of artisans and merchants who oversee the practice of their craft/trade in a particular territory. The earliest types of guild formed as organizations of tradespeople belonging to a professional association. They so ...

of stonemasons and sculptors. It is from this time that his work in Brussels begins. That same year, Brussels was largely destroyed by the French bombardment, which offered many opportunities for architects and sculptors in the rebuilding of the city. He was involved in the reconstruction of the

in a

style.''Armorial de la Gilde Drapière'', Bibliothèque Royale, Cabinet des Manuscrit, ms. G123.

Public functions

Van Dievoet occupied various public offices. From 1713 to 1723, between ages 52 and 62, he was one of ''The Eight'' and then ''Dean'' (judge) of the Drapery Court, a Brussels institution comparable to a chamber of commerce, whose members were called the "brothers of the Guild". At the end of his term, he became a member of the

magistrate The term magistrate is used in a variety of systems of governments and laws to refer to a civilian officer who administers the law. In ancient Rome, a '' magistratus'' was one of the highest ranking government officers, and possessed both judi ...

as a Councilor of the

City of Brussels The City of Brussels is the largest List of municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region, municipality and historical City centre, centre of the Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region, as well as the capital of the French Community of Belgium, the ...

from 1723 to 1724. After that, he left public life. A pious man, he had been, until the end of his life, a ''marguillier'' (

churchwarden A churchwarden is a lay official in a parish or congregation of the Anglican Communion, Lutheran Churches or Catholic Church, usually working as a part-time volunteer. In the Anglican tradition, holders of these positions are ''ex officio'' mem ...

) of the Church of St. Michael and St. Gudula. He died in Brussels on 2 March 1729, at the age of 68.

Work

General

Long after van Dievoet's death, a report of the magistrates of Brussels to

Prince Charles Alexander of Lorraine Prince Charles Alexander Emanuel of Lorraine (; ; 12 December 1712 in Lunéville – 4 July 1780 in Tervuren) was a Duchy of Lorraine, Lorraine-born Habsburg monarchy, Austrian general and soldier, field marshal of the Imperial Army of the Holy ...

, Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands, dated 27 September 1771, quotes van Dievoet in a list of "very remarkable Brussels sculptors". From his Brussels work, only the pieces mentioned by Guillaume Des Marez are known.Guillaume Des Marez (Illustrated Guide of Brussels, Brussels, 1928). He is mainly known there for his design and execution of many of the guild houses of Brussels'

. The following works are described by Des Marez:

The House of the White Lamb

The sculptures on the facade of the 1696 built House of the White Lamb ( Maison de l'Agneau Blanc) on the / are the work of van Dievoet.

The Grand-Place

Van Dievoet sculpted the facades of the following guild halls on the

: ''La Maison du Sac'' (Grand-Place, number 4), ''La Maison du Cornet'' (number 6), ''La Maison de l'Arbre d'Or'' or the House of Brewers (number 10), ''La Maison de la Chaloupe d'Or'' (number 24-25). He was also the architect for ''Le Heaume'' (number 34). File:Maison du Sac restaurée.jpg, ''La Maison du Sac'' File:Maison du Cornet 03.JPG, ''La Maison du Cornet'' File:Belgique - Bruxelles - Maison de l'Arbre d'Or - 01.jpg, ''L'Arbre d'Or'' File:Bruxelles, Grand-Place, la Chaloupe d'Or après rénovation - panoramio.jpg, ''La Maison de la Chaloupe d'Or'' File:Maison du Heaume 01.JPG, ''La Maison du Heaume''

Wood carving

To van Dievoet are attributed some finely chiseled woodcarvings, such as the elaborate lime-wood ornamentation of festoons and fruits in the collection of the Royal Museums of Art and History of Brussels. Royal Museums of Art and History of Brussels, Inventory 614, "encadrement ornemental attribué à Peter van Dievoet" (Brussels, 1661-1729). He also carved wooden "keerses" - richly decorated emblems that were used for celebrations of the tailors' guild of Brussels.

Arms

Gallery: File:Blason Pierre VAN DIEVOET - armorial Gilde Drapière 01.jpg, Peter van Dievoet's arms from roll of arms of the Drapery Court of Brussels File:Armorial de la Gilde Drapière Bruxelles 02.jpg, Van Dievoet's arms are featured on this

roll of arms A roll of arms (or armorial) is a collection of coat of arms, coats of arms, usually consisting of rows of painted pictures of shields, each shield accompanied by the name of the person bearing the arms. The oldest extant armorials date to the m ...

of the members of the Drapery Court of Brussels.

Notes and references

* — « La généalogie et l'héraldique au service de l'histoire de l'art », in ''L'Intermédiaire des généalogistes'', n° 137, Brussels, 1968. * — « Généalogie de Brou (x) », in ''L'Intermédiaire des généalogistes'', n° 122, Brussels, 1966, p. 88. * — ''La Grand'Place de Bruxelles'', illustrations de Van Gucht, Brussels, galerie Ex-Libris, s.d., n° 10. * Philippe Baert, ''Mémoires sur les sculpteurs et architectes des Pays-Bas'', edited by Baron de Reiffenberg, Brussels, 1848, p. 117. * Bénézit, ''Dictionnaire critique et documentaire des peintres, sculpteurs, dessinateurs et graveurs'', Paris, 1955, vol. 3, p. 268 et ibid. Paris, 1956, vol. 4, p. 238. * Bénézit, ''Dictionary of Artists'', 2006, vol.4, p. 911. * Edwin Beresford Chancellor, ''The Romance of Soho. Being an Account of the District, Its Past Distinguished Inhabitants'', 1931, p. 32. * David Blayney Brown, ''Catalogue of the Collection of Drawings in the Ashmolean Museum'', Ashmolean Museum - Art, 1982, p. 637. * Andrée Brunard, "La Grand-Place, joyau de la Capitale", in, ''Les Belles Heures de Bruxelles'', Paris-Bruxelles, 1952, p. 170. * J. E. Buschman, ''Annales de l'Académie d'archéologie de Belgique'', Bruxelles, 1867, p. 486 et p. 507. * Paul-Eugène Claessens et Julien Cuypers, "Quand Bruxelles ravagée renaît plus belle sous les ailes de l'archange : le sculpteur Pierre van Dievoet, son œuvre et sa famille", in ''Intermédiaire des généalogistes'', no. 121, Brussels, 1966, pp. 39–41. * Maurice Culot, Eric Hennaut, Marie Demanet, Caroline Mierop, ''Le bombardement de Bruxelles par Louis XIV et la reconstruction qui s'en suivit 1695-1700'', Brussels, 1992, p. 218 (Contrat d'adjudication de la maison du Cornet, Grand-Place) * Allan Cunningham, ''The Lives of the Most Eminent British Painters and Sculptors'', vol III, New York, 1835, p. 14. * Sir Lionel Henri Cust, "Grinling Gibbons", ''Dictionary of National Biography'', London, 1949–56, vol. VII, p. 1140. * M. J. De Decker, "Relevé de l'Agneau Blanc", (deuxième prix partagé, S.C.A.B. concours annuel de relevés de 1924), dans, ''L'Émulation'', Brussels, 1925, plate 8. * Guillaume Des Marez, ''Guide illustré de Bruxelles'', Brussels, 1928, vol. 1, pp. 65, 81, 82, 89, 90, 92, 112, and vol. 11, p. 182. * Guillaume Des Marez, "Les transformations de la ville de Bruxelles au XVIIème siècle et les métiers de la construction", ''Études inédites'', Brussels, 1936, p. 135. * Pieter D'Hondt, ''L'académie royale, notice historique'', Brussels, s.d., p. 21. * George Godwin, John Britton, ''The Churches of London: A History and Description of the Ecclesiastical Edifices of the Metropolis'', 1839. * David Green, ''Grinling Gibbons his work as carver and statuary, 1648-1721'', Londres, 1964, pp. 56, 194. *''Great men of Great Britain'', Cyclopaedia, Great Britain, 1866, p. 109. *

Rupert Gunnis Rupert Forbes Gunnis (11 March 1899 – 31 July 1965) was an English collector and historian of British sculpture. He is best known for his ''Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660–1851'', which "revolutionized the study of British sculpture, pr ...

, ''

Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660–1851 The ''Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660–1851'' is a biographical dictionary of sculptors active in Britain in the period between the Restoration of Charles II and the Great Exhibition of 1851. It has appeared in three editions, published in ...

'', London, 1953, pp. 130, 169, 406. * Alexandre Henne et Alphonse Wauters, ''Histoire de la ville de Bruxelles'', Bruxelles, 1845, vol. II, p. 556; Mina Martens, ''Index général'', Brussels, 1972, s.v. "Dievoet". * Mary Botham Howitt, ''Howitt's Journal of Literature and Popular Progress'', William Howitt, 1847, p. 408. * Johannes Immerzeel, ''De levens en werken der Hollandsche en Vlaamsche kunstschilders, beeldhouvers, graveurs'', Amsterdam, 1842, p. 278. * John Ingamells, ''Later Stuart Portraits 1685-1714''. London:

National Portrait Gallery National Portrait Gallery may refer to: * National Portrait Gallery (Australia), in Canberra * National Portrait Gallery (Sweden), in Mariefred *National Portrait Gallery (United States), in Washington, D.C. *National Portrait Gallery, London ...

, 2009, pp. 130, 387. * Chevalier Edmond Marchal, ''Mémoire sur la Sculpture aux Pays-Bas pendant les XVII et XVIII siècles'', Brussels, 1877, pp. 3, 12, 82, 190; ''La sculpture et les chefs-d'œuvre de l'orfèvrerie belges'', Brussels, 1895, pp. 468, 5S3, 743. * Dr. Kurt Zoege von Manteuffel, "Dievoet (Dievot), van Bildhauer in Brüssel", in Ulrich Thieme and Felix Becker (eds.), ''Allgemeines Lexicon des bildenden Künstler von der Antike bis zur gegenwart'', Leipzig, 1913, vol. IX, p. 279. * Victor-Gaston Martiny, "Le décor architectural de la Grand-Place", ''La Grand-Place de Bruxelles'', Brussels and Liège, 1966, p. 122. * André Monteyne, ''De Brusselaars in een stad die anders is'', 1981, pp. 127, 367. * Dr. Georg Kaspar Nagler, ''Neues Allgemeines Künstler- Lexicon'', Munich, 1836, vol. III, p. 404. * Henry-Charles van Parys, "Van Dievoet : réponse", ''L'Intermédiaire des généalogistes'', no. 148, Brussels, 1970, p. 254. * Alexandre Pinchart, ''Archives des arts, sciences et lettres, documents inédits'', Gand, 1860, vol. I, p. 40. * L. G. G. Ramsey, ''The Concise Encyclopedia of Antiques'', The Connoisseur, London, 1901, p. 155. * Viviane Roothooft, ''De Grote Markt te Brussel'', Bruxelles, 1978, p. 13. * Georges Sion, ''Bruxelles ou les contes de Mille et un ans'', Bruxelles, 1979, pp. 170 et 174. * Félix Stappaerts, "Pierre van Dievoet", ''

Biographie Nationale de Belgique The ''Biographie nationale de Belgique'' (; ) is a biographical dictionary of Belgium. It was published by the Royal Academy of Belgium in 44 volumes between 1866 and 1986. A continuation series, entitled the ''Nouvelle Biographie Nationale'' (, ...

'', Brussels, 1878, vol. VI, column 74; Brussels, 1936–1938, vol. XXVI, column 385. * H. Avray Tipping, ''Grinling Gibbons and the Wood-work of his age (1648-1720)'', London, 1914, pp. 95, 125, 251. * Alain Van Dievoet, "Les Vandive, consuls de Paris", ''L'Intermédiaire des généalogistes'', no. 180, Brussels, 1975, pp. 452 à 453. * Alain Van Dievoet, ''Une famille d'orfèvres et consuls de Paris d'origine bruxelloise : les van Dievoet dits van Dive, Bruxelles'', 1976, passim (xérocopié). * Alain Van Dievoet, "Question sur le sculpteur Pierre van Dievoet", ''L'Intermédiaire des généalogistes'', no. 147, Brussels, 1970, p. 185. * Alain Van Dievoet, "Un disciple belge de Grinling Gibbons, le sculpteur Pierre van Dievoet (1661-1729) et son œuvre à Londres et Bruxelles", ''Le Folklore brabançon'', March 1980, no. 225, pp. 65–91. * Alain Van Dievoet, "Généalogie de la famille van Dievoet originaire de Bruxelles, dite van Dive à Paris", ''Le Parchemin'', Brussels, 1986, no. 245, pp. 273–293. * Alain Van Dievoet, "Quand le savoir-faire des orfèvres bruxellois brillait à Versailles", ''Cahiers bruxellois'', Brussels, 2004, pp. 19–66. * Marcel Vanhamme, ''Bruxelles. Promenades dans le Passé'', Brussels, 1949, pp. 76, 84. * Louis Verniers, ''Un millénaire d'histoire de Bruxelles depuis les origines jusqu'en 1830'', Brussels, 1965, pp. 364, 366, 644. * George Vertue, ''Note Books'', ed. Walpole Society, Oxford, 1930–47, vol. I, pp. 61, 82, 106; vol. IV, p. 50. * George Vertue and Horace Walpole, ''Anecdotes of Painting in England'', London, 1765, vol. III, p. 91. * Alphonse Wauters, ''Liste des doyens des corps de métier de Bruxelles 1696-1795'', Brussels, 1888, p. 55. * Margaret Whinney, ''Sculpture in Britain, 1530 to 1830'', London, 1964, p. 55. * Dr. Alfred von Wurzbach, ''Niederländischer Künstler-Lexicon'', Vienna and Leipzig, 1906, vol. I, p. 407.

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Dievoet, Peter van 17th-century Flemish sculptors 18th-century Flemish sculptors Flemish Baroque sculptors 1660s births 1729 deaths

Peter Peter may refer to: People * List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Peter (given name) ** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church * Peter (surname), a su ...