Jules Pierre van Biesbroeck

Jules Pierre van Biesbroeck is the son of Jules Evarist van Biesbroeck, painter of Ghent. Jules was born by accident in Italy in Portici, near Naples, during a trip made by his parents. In the nineteenth century many artists were making educational trips in Italy and Jules’ father was no exception to the rule. It was an important trip because the child was already two years old when the family returned to Ghent.

After a short period of practice with his father, the boy was enrolled in the Academy of Fine Arts of Ghent. His first painting, "The pâtre" is sold at the Triennale in Ghent. In 1888, when he was only 15 years old, he made his debut at the "Salon des Champs-Elysées" in Paris with his monumental work "The lancement d'Argo." The canvas 7.5 meters by 2.6, caused quite a stir for the nakedness of his characters. The boy, called to Paris, amazed viewers for his young age and, to everyone's surprise, he obtained a "special mention". However, in order to expose the picture, his characters were "covered" with drapery.

In 1895 he began to devote himself to sculpture and his talent was rewarded by various orders including a monument to François Laurent, for a square in Ghent and another in honour of Jean Volder. In 1897 he came second in the Belgian "Prix de Rome" for sculpture after Henri Boncquet and in 1898 he will again be second in the section devoted to painting.

In Italy it is possible to admire his “Deposition” in Bordighera in the Church of the Immaculate Conception or Terrasanta.

In 1926 he made a trip to North Africa, where he fell under the charm of Algeria. The light and atmosphere of Maghreb will push him to use lighter colours and engage in oriental subjects. Algiers will have such an influence on him that he will reside there for nine years until 1938. His studio, called "La volière”, became extremely famous throughout the city.

In 1938 he left to go back to Gand where he said till his death, in 1965.