Laurent-Benoît Dewez (1731–1812), Architect in the Age of Enlightenment

Laurent-Benoît Dewez (1731-1812), court architect to Charles of Lorraine, was the most outstanding architect of his time in the Southern Low Countries. After studying in Italy and serving in the eminent office of Robert Adam in London, Dewez developed a personal, classical style that came to embody the “Eglise Belgique” under the Austrian Habsburgs. He designed numerous castles, abbeys, and churches across Belgium, but time has not been kind to his legacy: of his 80 architectural projects, many have vanished. However, the Château de Seneffe, the abbey of Vlierbeek in Leuven, and the churches in Andenne, Floreffe, and Harelbeke still stand as testaments to his remarkable talent. This richly illustrated monograph presents, for the first time, a comprehensive collection and analysis of the complete works of Laurent-Benoît Dewez.

Dirk Van de Vijver is associate professor of Architectural History and Conservation at the Department of History and Art History at Utrecht University.