Laurent-Benoît Dewez

Laurent-Benoît Dewez (14 April,1731 - 1 November,1812) was a Belgian architect of Walloon origin. He is considered the most influential architect in the Austrian Netherlands (present-day Belgium) from the second half of the 18th-century. His architectural projects are of international stature and introduced a neoclassical style with Italian and English influences to the region. He designed a large number of châteaux, abbeys and churches in Belgium, many of which were damaged after the French revolution.

Early life

Dewez was born in Petit-Rechain near Verviers on 14 April,1731. The abbot of the Abbey of Saint Hubert sent him on a study trip to Italy. There he worked with Luigi Vanvitelli and came into contact with Robert Adam, Giovanni Batista Piranesi, Johann Joachim Winckelmann and Charles-Louis Clérisseau. After a subsequent study trip to Split in company of Robert Adam he worked briefly as an associate of the Adam brothers in London in 1758. In 1759 he came back to the Austrian Netherlands to start the rebuilding of the Abbey of Orval, a work which was never completed.

Professional Life

. His tomb stone with a brief Latin description of his life and work, can still be seen in the exterior wall of the church of Groot-Bijgaarden.

Buildings designed

*Abbey of Affligem (demolished)
*Abbey of Orval
*Abbey of Dielegem in Jette near Brussels (partly demolished)
*Abbey of Vorst
*Abbey of Vlierbeek
*Abbey of Opheylissem today Hélécine
*Abbey of Gembloux
*Abbot's palace of the Abbey of Tournai, today Hôtel de Ville.
*Abbey church of Bonne-Espérance.
*Church of Harelbeke
*Church of Andenne
*Château de Wasseiges (demolished)
*Château de Seneffe
*Château de Mariemont (demolished)
*State Prison of Vilvoorde

References

*Léon Dewez, 'Laurent-Benoit Dewez: premier architecte de la Cour de Bruxelles sous Charles de Lorraine', 1731-1812, in: "Annales de la Société royale d’archéologie de Bruxelles". - 35(1930); p. 65-94.
*Cathérine de Braekeleer, "Laurent-Benoît Dewez 1731-1812", Seneffe, 1992.
*H. Gerson and E. H. ter Kuile, "Art and Architecture in Belgium, 1600-1800", Harmondsworth, England, 1960.

Persondata
NAME = Dewez, Laurent-Benoît
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Belgian Architect
DATE OF BIRTH = 14 April,1731
PLACE OF BIRTH = Petit-Rechain near Verviers, Belgium
DATE OF DEATH = 1 November,1812
PLACE OF DEATH = Prague