Laurent-Benoît Dewez

Laurent- Benoît Dewez ( born April 14, 1731 in Petit- Rechain, † November 1, 1812 in Groot -Bijgaarden ) is considered the greatest architect of the 18th century the territory of the Austrian Netherlands (now Belgium). Dewez led an Italian and English -influenced neoclassical style of architecture in the region. Numerous castles, abbeys and churches were built according to his plans; many of them, however, were damaged or destroyed during the French Revolution.

Life

Dewez was born in 1731 near Verviers as the eighth child of a publican. His artistic talent was noticed early on by the abbot of Saint- Hubert. He sent Dewez with a grant from a study trip to Italy. Here Dewez worked at Lodewijk van Wittel - called Vanvitelli - and also learned other important architects and theoreticians of classicism, such as Robert Adam, Clérisseau, Piranesi and Winckelmann know.

At a joint study trip with Robert Adam to Dalmatia, he studied the impressive ruins of Diocletian's Palace in Spalato. In 1758, he deepened his knowledge in the workshop of the famous brothers John and Robert Adam in London. In 1759 he was recalled in the Austrian Netherlands, to take over the rebuilding of the Abbey Orval. Here Dewez leads for the first time a classicism in what is now Belgium.

In 1760 he settled Brussels and in 1767 the General Court architect governor of the Netherlands, Charles of Lorraine. After Dewez was accused by competitors to have made mistakes in the construction of the prison Vilvoorde, he fell from grace and lost his position as court architect.

In 1793 he fled from the French revolutionary troops to Prague. There Dewez built several private mansions. In 1804 he returned to Belgium, but could not go on from its previous economic success. Dewez died impoverished in 1812 in Groot -Bijgaarden.

His grave stone is now located on the outside wall of the Church of Groot- Bijgaarden and wearing a short Latin description of his life and work.

Work

Built from 1763 to 1768 Castle in Seneffe is considered Dewez ' masterpiece. A smaller version is the castle of La Motte in Sint- Ulriks Chapel.

Other works are:

• Affligem Abbey (destroyed)
• Orval Abbey
• Abbey Dielegem in Jette ( partially destroyed )
• Abbey Vorst
• Abbey Vlierbeek
• Abbey Hélécine ( partially destroyed )
• Abbey of Gembloux
• The abbey abbot's palace Tournai, now the town hall.
• Abbey Church of Bonne- Espérance.
• Church Harelbeke
• Church Andenne
• Castle Wasseiges (destroyed)
• Castle Mariemont (destroyed)
• State prison Vilvoorde