Jules Pierre van Biesbroeck (Belgian, 1873-1965)
A Mother of Algeria
signed 'Van Biesbroeck' (upper right)
oil on canvas
87.5 x 53cm (34 7/16 x 20 7/8in).
Footnotes:
Provenance
The artist.
Gifted to the sculptor Joan Katherine Dummett (British, 1905-2005).
By descent.
Private collection, UK.

Born in Italy in 1873, Jules Pierre Van Biesbroeck was the son of the painter Jules Evarist Van Biesbroeck. The family re-settled in Ghent when Jules was two, and like his father, he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Ghent, exhibiting his first painting at the age of just 14. On his Salon debut in 1888, Van Biesbroeck created a scandal with his large scale work, Le lancement d'Argos, which depicted nude figures, which had to be covered with drapery in order to be shown. Despite this, the young artist received 'special mention'.

Van Biesbroeck was recognised for both his painting and sculpture, receiving awards and recognition throughout his career, as well as regular commissions. He was chosen to represent Belgium at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1900. Fleeing Belgium on the onset of the First World War, the artist settled in Bordighera in Northern Italy.

Van Biesbroeck's first exposure to Orientalism came with a visit to North Africa in 1926, followed by a visit to Algeria in 1927, which radically altered the artist's style. The artist lived and worked in Algiers from 1929-1938, establishing a studio, 'La Volière', which became famous throughout the city.

In 1938 Van Biesbroeck returned to Ghent where he remained until his death in 1965.
This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: AR
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