Laurence Vander Meulen


Laurence Vander Meulen, born in Mechelen in 1643 and died in his hometown in 1719 was a Flemish sculptor.
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He is most famous for having worked on the statue of King James II in Trafalgar Square along with the sculptor Peter van Dievoet from Brussels for the workshop of Grinling Gibbons.

Biography

Laurence Vander Meulen began his training in his hometown, which had a rich school of sculpture, and after beginning the study of painting, he was attracted by this art and trained at twenty, that is to say late enough to an apprentice, in the workshop of the renowned Malinois sculptor Pierre Vander Stock. He did not stay there long, and before reaching mastery, which he will accomplish after his return to Mechelen, he went to England where, following the London fire and his rebuilding, there was a strong demand in the crafts.
He went to join the important colony of Flemish artists, painters, sculptors, tapestry makers, etc. who was active there.
This is how it is found in London alongside other compatriots, like Arnold Quellin, the son of Artus Quellinus, John Nost, also Malinois, Antoon Verhuke and Peter Van Dievoet, in the workshop of Grinling Gibbons a Virtuoso sculptor in the fine carving of floral motifs.
Considering no doubt that his training was sufficient and he now equaled his master he returned in 1687 in his hometown, which allowed him to avoid the troubles of the Revolution of 1688.
In order to be able to settle on his own country, he completed the formalities to achieve mastery and then married Cornelia-Thérèse de Croes, sister-in-law of the sculptor Jean-Luc Faydherbe, son of the great sculptor Lucas Faydherbe, he was entering the most influential art scene in the Netherlands.
He thus began a fruitful career as an ornamental sculptor, decorating many churches and mansions with his ornaments composed of garlands of flowers, scissors and the fine carving of a goldsmith. Beside this, religious statues, virgins, and some busts are also mentioned.
Despite the abundance of his work it has become very rare and scattered, which makes the study difficult.