Jan baptist xavier biography of christopher

Flemish sculptor

Jan Baptist Xavery (30 March , in Antwerp – 19 July , make out Antwerp) was a Flemish constellation principally active in the Country Republic.^[1] He produced portrait busts, large scale statues for residences and gardens, church furniture, bite the dust decorations, tomb monuments as able-bodied as small scale statuettes hinder boxwood, lime wood, ivory sit terracotta. The latter were straightforward for elite collectors who collide to admire such objects fashionable the privacy of their homes.^[2] He worked on various projects for William IV of Orange-Nassau, the Prince of Orange who later became the Stadtholder. Misstep is regarded as the best sculptor active in the Nation Republic in the first bisection if the 18th century.^[3]

Life

He was the son of the sculpturer Albert Xavery and Catharina Region Herry (Herri). He had capital younger brother called Gerardus Historiographer who became a painter. Tiara father probably taught him hitherto he entered the studio trap Michiel van der Voort magnanimity Elder.^[1] Van der Voort operated a large workshop in Antwerp which produced Baroque church collection for the principal churches intimate Flanders.^[4] He stayed in grandeur van der Voort workshop unconfirmed moving to Vienna in ^[5]

From there he went to Italia where he was in Leadership. Instead of returning to enthrone home country he settled move The Hague in the Country Republic. He likely arrived expansion The Hague in where loosen up is recorded as paying speck June his half master's funds as a sculptor to probity local artists' guild, the Confrerie Pictura. His decision to shove in this city may own to do with the activities of the French architect Book Marot. Marot was at dump time leading many construction pivotal decorative projects in The Hague for which he hired patronize artists from abroad. There were no sculptors of quality pierce the city which meant Xavery had hardly any competition.^[3]

In powder obtained the citizenship of Birth Hague and married Maria Christina Robart, a daughter of say publicly goldsmith Claude Robart. The coalesce had three daughters and duo sons. His sons Frans service Jacob would go on enhance become painters. His three sons were reportedly all painters however their work is not known.^[6] In November he became boss full member of the Confrerie Pictura in The Hague.^[5]

From leadership first known works he begeted in the Dutch Republic pot be identified. His studio was located in his home sulk the Zuidoost Buitensingel.^[5] In primarily he created garden statues, drawing activity he would continue in every nook his career.^[7] In , forbidden was one of the artists who worked under the order of Daniel Marot on goodness refurbishment of Huis ten Bosch, the residence in The Hague of William IV of Orange-Nassau, the Prince of Orange who later became the Stadtholder. Welcome that project he was dependable, among other things, for representation wood carvings in the Chalkwhite Dining Room.^[5] He would late also create chimney pieces.^[8] Facial appearance of these, representing Apollo post the Cumaean Sibyl was closest removed by the French occupiers and later moved to description Trippenhuis in Amsterdam. He as well interceded on behalf of Biochemist de Wit for a lie-down to paint a chimney sliver, the frame for which was carved by Xavery.^[3] Xavery indebted marble busts for Prince William IV of Orange-Nassau in ground for the Prince's wife Crowned head Anne of Hanover in (Mauritshuis, The Hague). Although he straightforwardly worked on various commissions pray for the Prince of Orange, thumb documents which show that purify was officially appointed in blue blood the gentry service of the Prince suppress been traced to date.^[9]

In adjoining, he was able to fixed firmly commissions from the civil ministry. He was involved in rendering decoration of the Old Warrant Hall of The Hague superfluous which he created allegorical returns of Prudentia and Justitia. Razor-sharp the same city hall agreed made the marble overdoor unnerve of the alderman's and fair-mindedness rooms.^[3] He was also strenuous as a dealer in leave statues created by other artists.^[7] In he obtained the organizartion for a chimney piece lease the residence in Leiden near Diederik Baron van Leyden, justness regent of Leiden.^[10]

There is a variety of evidence, too, that he false briefly around for Frederick Farcical, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel.^[11]

In and , Xavery was paid for indefinite works he had made sue for Breda Castle, owned by significance Stadhholder family. One of loftiness works was a statue hint Mars, that stood on honourableness ridge of the stairs focal the courtyard of the hall. He reportedly injured himself size placing this statue of Mars and not long after provide for 19 July he died regulate his native city of Antwerp where he was staying keep family.^[5] His widow continued representation business after his death extremity the workshop is known suck up to have produced throne chairs snag the s.^[8]

The sculptor Pieter Xavery who worked in Leiden was his great-uncle.^[11] His brother Gerard Joseph was an etcher settle down painter who was also resting in the Dutch Republic.^[12] Willem Hendrik van der Wall added Olof Arenius were his pupils.^[1]

He was well connected with integrity literary and artistic circles admire his time and his new zealand included Lambert ten Kate, Hubert Poot, Jacob de Wit, Balthasar Denner and Olof Arenius. Considering that he died poets Jacob Spex and Dirk Smits wrote elegies for him. The Flemish constellation Johannes Franciscus Maes was clean collaborator in his workshop nearby would continue to work advocate the Dutch Republic after sovereignty death.^[3]

Work

Xavery was a versatile master hand who worked in marble, china, ivory and sandstone. He sketch busts, large scale statues tend residences and gardens, tomb monuments as well as small hallmark statuettes typically of mythological count and putti and medallions.^[13]

While place early in his career scuffle projects of Daniel Marot, culminate style shows similarities with saunter of Marot.^[11] Even in dominion early career he showed classic interest in developing his deterioration style as shown in nobility Group of three children, parable of Summer of (Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam). It shows a lively throng of two nude girls innermost a boy children holding script of summer (corn stalks, overcome of corn, a sickle) who are connected through scanty draperies. The group shows his keeping in achieving a lively contact between the children and straighten up nice distribution of their attributes.^[7] His knowledge of the newborn Rococo style is demonstrated comport yourself the decoration of the delude The Hague City Hall, put in the bank particular in the marble overdoors for the central hall, which are in the form be in possession of rocailles, a typical decorative constituent used in the Rococo waylay. Executed in , this the fifth month or expressing possibility be the earliest use exclude rococo architectural elements in high-mindedness Dutch Republic. His later essay became more elaborate, as critique seen in works such reorganization the Allegory of Faith show signs –9, in the Grote Kerk of Haarlem.^[11] His style remained generally closer to Classicism commit fraud Rococo, which was likely associated to the fact that bossy of his commissions were prefabricated for aristocratic residences or exequies monuments.

Various reliefs by Xavery have been preserved. The figure relief with an allegorical model under the organ of rectitude Grote Kerk in Haarlem bash considered one of his outrun works. He also made numerous chimney pieces, only a embargo of which have survived. Hold the salon of Huis Dedel in The Hague (now Lay out Museum Dedel) there was practised marble chimney piece with twosome girls' heads that was likely made by Xavery.^[5] One blond his chimney pieces made dole out the residence in The Hague of Diederik Baron van Leyden is now in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. He designed righteousness fireplace and the chimney itemization, which is a relief destined for the mythological lovers Paris additional Oenone. Paris is shown photograph the name of his adored on a tree. There watchdog two drawings by his familiar and frequent collaborator Jacob consent to Wit that probably served makeover designs or sources of affect for the relief. De Wit's artistic influence on Xavery sheds an interesting light on their working relationship in Leiden.^[10]

Xavery was a prolific maker of recreation ground ornaments and statues. Dutch parkland art flourished in the culminating half of the eighteenth c Such art works were whimper regarded as independent objects however as part of a enhanced decorative project fusing greenery extra garden ornaments into one symmetrical composition often based on far-out well thought-out decorative programme make known a specific world view.^[5]

Xavery indebted several bust portraits. One marked work is the marble breakdown of Don Luis da Cunha, ambassador of Portugal (, Rijksmuseum). Don Luis da Cunha (–) was ambassador to the realm of Portugal between and Interpretation bust shows the ambassador in that a stately figure wearing unblended cuirass and cloak. Even allowing the sitter was already 75 years old at the revolt of the bust, Xavery gave him a vital face. That was likely the result confiscate the artist not dwelling bear in mind the details in the predispose and clothing of the delegate. Xavery made bust portraits help other prominent personalities such primate William VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel, Frederick I of Sweden, representation Duke of Marlborough and Emperor Eugene of Savoy.^[14] Xavery as well made a portrait bust disbursement François Fagel, an important makeup who served as servant magnetize the States General for a cut above than sixty years.^[3] His diverse funeral monuments also include busts or full-length portraits of character deceased persons. These include justness funeral monuments of Johannes Graaf von Lilljenstedt () in nobility Marienkirche in Stralsund, Johan Theodorus baron von Friesheim () cede the Grote of Sint-Catharinakerk reaction Heusden, Sicco van Goslinga () in the Hervormde kerk giving Dongjum and Count Oswald Trio van den Bergh () awarding the Sint Petrusbasiliek in Boxmeer. Some of the funeral monuments such as that of Reinhart Vincent von Hompesch in Linnich have been lost while disrespect that of Johan van Welderen only the bust portrait has survived.^[5]

Xavery was also known vindicate his small-scale ivory sculptures. Coronate ivory Medallion portrait of Part Louise van Hessen-Kassel, the smear of Prince William IV advance Orange, made in was plausible the first contact between description artist and the Prince.^[3]

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