Gabriel Van Dievoet


Gabriel Van Dievoet was a Belgian decorator and Liberty style sgraffitist. He was the brother of the architect Henri Van Dievoet.
He was the son of Leon Van Dievoet, ship-owner and maritime-agent, and of Hermine Straatman; and the grandson of Eugene van Dievoet and Hortense Poelaert.

Studies and early career

After studying at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels at the same time as Paul Cauchie, he opened his decorative arts workshop and started collaborating with many Art Nouveau or Late Eclectic architects, such as Victor Boelens, De Kock, Georges Delcoigne, Edouard Elle, Guillaume Low, Georges Peereboom, Edouard Pelseneer, Albert Roosenboom, Fernand Symons, Joseph Van Neck, Armand Van Waesberghe and his own brother, Henri Van Dievoet.
He settled initially at Rue Faider, then at 91 Rue Souveraine in Ixelles, Brussels.
His style is characterized mainly by the use of stylized floral elements.

Works

He designed many sgraffito decorations in Brussels and in Wallonia. He was often inspired by the artworks created during the Arts and Crafts Movement, such as the decorations of the "Maison dorée" in the town of Charleroi.
He also designed the sgraffito decorations of the following monuments:
He also produced several paintings and watercolours; the prints room at the Royal Library of Belgium still preserves his etching entitled "Head of Lion".