Laurent-Benoît Dewez

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Former Abbey of Opheylissem (Hélécine). The central dome originally housed the Abbey church

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 France, many of which were damaged after the French revolution.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Professional Life

Abbey of Gembloux, Abbot's Palace

In 1760 he settled in Brussels. He mainly worked for abbeys and nobility in the Austrian Netherlands. In 1767 he was appointed court architect to the Goveror of the Austrian Netherlands, Charles-Alexandre de Lorraine for whom he built the Castle of Mariemont which was demolished in the aftermath of the French revolution. A masterpiece still preserved today is the Château de Seneffe built between 1763 and 1768. His last great project was the new State Prison in Vilvoorde. Dewez's adversaries, envious of his success as court architect, accused him of failures and fraud in the execution of this project. Due to this accusations he fell into disfavour and was dismissed as court architect. On the invasion of the Austrian Netherlands by French revolutionary troops in 1793, Dewez fled to Prague. In the Czech capital he designed and built some private mansions for the local bourgeoisie. In 1804 he returned to Belgium. He died relatively impoverished in Groot-Bijgaarden on 1 November 1812. 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.

[edit] Buildings designed

Château de Seneffe

• 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

Church of Andenne

• 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

[edit] 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.

Château de Seneffe garden side	Château de Seneffe, Orangerie	Abbey Church of Bonne-Esperance (with medieval tower)	Abbey Church of Bonne-Esperance
Abbot's palace of the Abbey of Bonne-Esperance	Town hall (former Abbey) of Tournai	Town hall (former Abbey) of Tournai	Abbey of Vorst, Entrance gate
Abbess residence of the Abbey of Vorst	Saint-Salvator Church in Harelbeke	Saint-Salvator Church in Harelbeke	Saint-Salvator Church in Harelbeke
Saint-Salvator Church in Harelbeke (nave)	Saint-Salvator Church in Harelbeke (side aisle)	Andenne, Interior of the Church	Andenne, Interior of the Church