Henri Van Dievoet
Encyclopedia
Henri van Dievoet was a Belgian
architect
.
, which had already shone in the fine arts of the time of Louis XIV. His great-great-uncles were the goldsmith Philippe van Dievoet
and the sculptor Peter van Dievoet
, one of the creators of the Grand Place
of Brussels
. Joseph Poelaert
was his great-uncle.
He married Eugenie Ernestine Clémence Hortense Masson in Ixelles on 2 October 1894. She was born in Ixelles on 9 July 1872, daughter of Captain Stanislas Jean Ernest Masson, knight of the Ordre of Léopold, and Marie Eugenie Louise Clémence Monnoury. His first construction project (1889) was the house and workshop of the artist Félix Rodberg, 30 rue Washington, in Ixelles.
In 1890 he participated in the Salon d' Architecture de l'Exposition des Beaux -Arts de Bruxelles alongside Victor Horta and of Maurice Van Ysendijck.
In 1894 he won the Grand Prix of architecture of the Town of Brussels for his project "House of Parliament for a constitutional country".
In 1901, he conceived a series of buildings with apartments on Campenhout Street in Brussels.
Other works include a house and studio for artist Felix Rodberg in Washington Straat (1889);
the Evangelical Church in Haine Saint Paul Jolimont (1890); four houses on the rue General Patton (1895); the Royal Military Academy
on the Avenue de la Renaissance, with fellow architect Henri Maquet
(1908); and the Hotel Astoria, Rue Royale (1909).
Among his disciples appears Joseph Van Neck, who worked as draftsman in his workshop.
Starting in 1910, he was professor with the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts
in Brussels.
From 1924 to 1931, From 1924 to 1931 he taught architectural drawing and perspective at the Academy of Fine Arts in Saint Gilles.
His son, Paul Van Dievoet (born Brussels, 23 August 1896, died Schaerbeek 7 September 1947), was architect for the commune of Schaerbeek, but also produced private work.
His daughter, Germaine Van Dievoet
(born Brussels 26 September 1899, died 30 October 1990 at Uccle), was a championship swimmer who took part in the 1920 Summer Olympics
in Antwerp.
Henri Van Dievoet was the brother of the famous decorator and modern-style sgraffitist
Gabriel Van Dievoet
(1875–1934), whose works still decorate many frontages of Brussels.
He also had a sister, Louise van Dievoet, born in Brussels on 3 November 1880, died in Paris on 26 December 1964. who married André Gachassin-Lafite, Viscount of Orthez, Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, captain to the 3rd regiment of Hunters of Africa (quartered with Constantine, Algérie). He was Military Assistant-Attache with the Embassy of France with Brussels, then Member of the High Commission of the Ministry for the War near the factories Schneider, Creusot (1915–1918).
attended his burial, which took place in Brussels Cemetery in Evere
. He is buried in the large central alley, n° 218, under a simple cross.
In Hasselt, he drew the designs for the National Bank.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
.
Biography
Van Dievoet belonged to an old family of Brussels descended from the Sweerts family, one of the Seven noble houses of BrusselsSeven noble houses of Brussels
The Seven noble houses of Brussels were the seven families of Brussels whose descendants formed the patrician class of that city, and to whom special privileges in the government of that city were granted until the end of the Ancien Régime.-History:...
, which had already shone in the fine arts of the time of Louis XIV. His great-great-uncles were the goldsmith Philippe van Dievoet
Philippe Van Dievoet
Philippe Van Dievoet, , was a celebrated goldsmith and jeweller. He was goldsmith to King Louis XIV, conselor of the King and Consul of Paris....
and the sculptor Peter van Dievoet
Peter Van Dievoet
Peter van Dievoet was a Belgian sculptor and designer of ornamental architectural features. He was born in Brussels, baptised 29 June 1661 in the church of Sainte-Gudule, died 2 March 1729 in Brussels....
, one of the creators of the Grand Place
Grand Place
The Grand Place or Grote Markt is the central square of Brussels. It is surrounded by guildhalls, the city's Town Hall, and the Breadhouse . The square is the most important tourist destination and most memorable landmark in Brussels, along with the Atomium and Manneken Pis...
of Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. Joseph Poelaert
Joseph Poelaert
Joseph Poelaert was a Belgian architect.- Life :Born in Brussels to Philip Poelaert , a former architecture student at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, Poelaert also trained there under Tilman-François Suys, and then in Paris under Louis Visconti and Jean-Nicolas Huyot.Poelaert...
was his great-uncle.
He married Eugenie Ernestine Clémence Hortense Masson in Ixelles on 2 October 1894. She was born in Ixelles on 9 July 1872, daughter of Captain Stanislas Jean Ernest Masson, knight of the Ordre of Léopold, and Marie Eugenie Louise Clémence Monnoury. His first construction project (1889) was the house and workshop of the artist Félix Rodberg, 30 rue Washington, in Ixelles.
In 1890 he participated in the Salon d' Architecture de l'Exposition des Beaux -Arts de Bruxelles alongside Victor Horta and of Maurice Van Ysendijck.
In 1894 he won the Grand Prix of architecture of the Town of Brussels for his project "House of Parliament for a constitutional country".
In 1901, he conceived a series of buildings with apartments on Campenhout Street in Brussels.
Other works include a house and studio for artist Felix Rodberg in Washington Straat (1889);
the Evangelical Church in Haine Saint Paul Jolimont (1890); four houses on the rue General Patton (1895); the Royal Military Academy
Royal Military Academy (Belgium)
The Royal Military Academy is the military university of Belgium. The school is responsible for the education of the officers of the four components of the Belgian defence . The school is located in Brussels in a building construct by the architects Henri Maquet and Henri Van Dievoet...
on the Avenue de la Renaissance, with fellow architect Henri Maquet
Henri Maquet
Henri Maquet was a Belgian architect, best known for his work for King Leopold II of Belgium.Born in Brussels, Maquet trained in Liege, at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, then worked in the office of Hendrik Beyaert...
(1908); and the Hotel Astoria, Rue Royale (1909).
Among his disciples appears Joseph Van Neck, who worked as draftsman in his workshop.
Positions held
He was for many years the secretary of the Central Société of Architecture of Brussels.Starting in 1910, he was professor with the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts
Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts
The Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels is an art school, founded in 1711.The faculty and alumni of ARBA include some of the most famous names in Belgian painting, sculpture, and architecture: James Ensor, Rene Magritte, and Paul Delvaux...
in Brussels.
From 1924 to 1931, From 1924 to 1931 he taught architectural drawing and perspective at the Academy of Fine Arts in Saint Gilles.
Family
His daughter, Germaine Van Dievoet
Germaine Van Dievoet
Germaine van Dievoet was a competition swimmer.Van Dievoet was born in Brussels, Belgium to architect Henri van Dievoet...
(born Brussels 26 September 1899, died 30 October 1990 at Uccle), was a championship swimmer who took part in the 1920 Summer Olympics
1920 Summer Olympics
The 1920 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium....
in Antwerp.
Henri Van Dievoet was the brother of the famous decorator and modern-style sgraffitist
Sgraffito
Sgraffito is a technique either of wall decor, produced by applying layers of plaster tinted in contrasting colors to a moistened surface, or in ceramics, by applying to an unfired ceramic body two successive layers of contrasting slip, and then in either case scratching so as to produce an...
Gabriel Van Dievoet
Gabriel Van Dievoet
Gabriel Van Dievoet is a Belgian decorator and Liberty style sgraffitist of great talent. He was the brother of the architect Henri Van Dievoet...
(1875–1934), whose works still decorate many frontages of Brussels.
He also had a sister, Louise van Dievoet, born in Brussels on 3 November 1880, died in Paris on 26 December 1964. who married André Gachassin-Lafite, Viscount of Orthez, Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, captain to the 3rd regiment of Hunters of Africa (quartered with Constantine, Algérie). He was Military Assistant-Attache with the Embassy of France with Brussels, then Member of the High Commission of the Ministry for the War near the factories Schneider, Creusot (1915–1918).
End of his life
Henri van Dievoet died forgotten and, besides his close family, there was little of the outside world at his funeral: only his friend Victor HortaVictor Horta
Victor, Baron Horta was a Belgian architect and designer. John Julius Norwich described him as "undoubtedly the key European Art Nouveau architect." Indeed, Horta is one of the most important names in Art Nouveau architecture; the construction of his Hôtel Tassel in Brussels in 1892-3 means that...
attended his burial, which took place in Brussels Cemetery in Evere
Evere
Evere is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium. On January 1, 2006 the municipality had a total population of 33,462...
. He is buried in the large central alley, n° 218, under a simple cross.
His work
His work always marks the urban landscape of Brussels:- Protestant Temple of Haine-Saint-Paul-Jolimont, rue Henri Aubry, dedicated the 1sth novembre 1890.
- Hotel AstoriaHotel Astoria, BrusselsThe Hotel Astoria is a five-star hotel in Brussels, Belgium, built in 1909. It has served as a famous meeting place of kings and other great statesmen and world personalities. Since 2000, the hotel has been listed as a protected monument.-History:...
(1909), Royal street, 103. built for the Brussels International Expo (1910)Brussels International 1910Exposition Universelle et Internationale was a world's fair held in Brussels in 1910 from April 23 to November 1. This was just thirteen years after the previous Brussels world's fair.... - Firm of Muds, quay of Willebroeck, 22.
- Arsenal of Cartage, boulevard Louis Schmidt, 1–29.
- Royal Military AcademyRoyal Military Academy (Belgium)The Royal Military Academy is the military university of Belgium. The school is responsible for the education of the officers of the four components of the Belgian defence . The school is located in Brussels in a building construct by the architects Henri Maquet and Henri Van Dievoet...
, avenue de la Renaissance, 30, in collaboration with Henri MaquetHenri MaquetHenri Maquet was a Belgian architect, best known for his work for King Leopold II of Belgium.Born in Brussels, Maquet trained in Liege, at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, then worked in the office of Hendrik Beyaert...
. - Diamond Deluxe Hotel, (the future Aegidium), heightening of part of the Moorish room, in Saint-Gilles (Brussels).
- The hotel De Leeuw, in 1897, decorated with Sgraffite (" Maronniers") by his brother Gabriel van Dievoet
- Houses on the boulevard of General Jacques
- Villas with Watermael-Boitsfort on the periphery of Brussels
- Monument of Leon Rodberg (1832–1888), of Art nouveau styleArt NouveauArt Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
with the Cimetière of Robermont.
In Hasselt, he drew the designs for the National Bank.
Works of other architects Van Dievoet
Several members of van Dievoet's family were also architects.- Paul Van Dievoet (1896–1947), his son, architect of the Commune of Schaerbeek
- Gabriel Van DievoetGabriel Van DievoetGabriel Van Dievoet is a Belgian decorator and Liberty style sgraffitist of great talent. He was the brother of the architect Henri Van Dievoet...
(1875–1934), his brother, author of many projects of sgraffitos - Eugène Van Dievoet (1862–1937), his first cousin, engineer, professor at the Military academy and architect, member of the Royal Company of Archeology of Brussels, designer of the Brison House, Reyers Boulevard, 120 (blue Stone-built house, style Louis XV).
- Leon Van Dievoet (1907–1993), his nephew, who in addition to an architectural work left hundreds of drawings, watercolours, paintings and engravings of Brussels that were completed between 1923 and 1993 and which preserve a record of many places that have now disappeared.
Writings
- "Exposure of work of the pupils of the Co-educational school of drawing and industry of Schaerbeek", in the Emulation, Brussels, 1893, E. Lyon-Claesen, pp. 152 to 154.
- "Applied Art to the Artistic Circle", in the Chronicle of Public works and Finance, Brussels, 2 February 1896.
- "Decorative Art", in the Chronicle of Public works and Finance, Brussels, 7 June 1896.
- "Art with Ixelles", in the Chronicle of Public works and Finance, Brussels, 5 July 1896.
- "Obituary: Jean Naert", in the Emulation, Brussels, 1910, n°11, pp. 83–84.