Charles Emmanuel Biset, a Flemish painter, was born at Mechlin in 1633. It is not said by whom he was instructed, but he went to Paris when he was young, and met with great encouragement, his pictures, which represented gallant assemblies, balls, concerts, and what are called 'conversations,' being adapted to French taste. Notwithstanding his success, the love of his native country induced him to return to Antwerp, where he was appointed director of the Academy, in 1674. He designed his subjects with taste, but his colour is rather cold and grey. His chief work is a large picture in the Brussels Gallery, formerly in the hall of the Archers' Guild at Antwerp, representing 'William Tell preparing to shoot the Apple from the Head of his Son.' A 'Family Group' by him is in the Museum at Rotterdam. He died at Breda in 1680 (or 1685). His son Jan Baptist Biset was also a painter.
This article incorporates text from the article "BISET, Karel Emanuel" in Bryan's Dictionary of Painters and Engravers by Michael Bryan, edited by Robert Edmund Graves and Sir Walter Armstrong, an 1886–1889 publication now in the public domain.