Peter Van Dievoet

Peter van Dievoet
Born
Brussels
Baptised29 June 1661
Died2 March 1729 (68 years old)
Brussels
Nationality(1661–1714) :
Spanish Netherlands
(1714–1729) :
Austrian Netherlands
Known forSculpture, architecture
Notable workStatue of James II, Trafalgar Square and facades of buildings on the Grand-Place,
StyleBaroque,[1] classical[2]
SpouseDorothea de Witte
ElectedGuilds of Brussels, Drapery Court, Magistracy of Brussels.

Peter van Dievoet (/ˈdiːvʊt/; written in his native Dutch of the period as 'Peeter van Dievoet',[3] in French literature referred to as 'Pierre Van Dievoet', Latin: Petrus; 1661–1729) 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 guild houses on the Grand-Place (Brussels' main square),[4] which was rebuilt after the bombardment of 1695, as well as on the Statue of James II on Trafalgar Square, London, made in collaboration with fellow Flemish sculptor Laurens van der Meulen.[5][6] He was the half-brother of Philippe van Dievoet, goldsmith to King Louis XIV of France and the uncle of the Parisian printer Guillaume Vandive.[7]

  1. ^ His work in Brussels is Baroque
  2. ^ The statue of James II is, unusually for the time, in a classical style.
  3. ^ He signed 'Peeter van Dievoet', act 208 of 21 November 1722 by the notary Jan Pilloy (General State Archives of Belgium, Notary-General of Brabant)
  4. ^ Éric Hennaut, "Les couleurs de la Grand-Place. Notes sur les parements des façades après le bombardement de 1695", in Autour du bombardement de Bruxelles de 1695. Désastre et relèvement, p. 65, note 11 : "A.G.R., Métiers et Sements de Brabant 286 (corporation des Brasseurs), comptes 1696-1701 ; A.G.R., Notariat Général de Brabant 1987 (notaire P. Van Cutsem), 18 mars 1697, contract for sculpture with Peter van Dievoet : Item sullen de aenbesteder moeten leveren de noodighe avendersteenen tot het maecken van de voors. wercken."
  5. ^ Horace Walpole, 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 ; and now digested and published from his original MSS. by Mr. Horace Walpole, 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 [sic]" ; George Vertue, 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".
  6. ^ "Artistes, de père en fils". Site-LeVif-FR. 21 November 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  7. ^ Walériane Dubois, « Ces dynasties qui ont bâti Bruxelles : Les Van Dievoet – Créateurs polyvalents », in Le Vif Weekend, n°8, 5 November 2020, p. 65.