Charles Van Oemberg

CHARLES VAN OEMBERG (Limelette, 1824 - Mons, 1901).
"La châtelaine".
Carved white marble.
Signed on the back.
Titled on the front of the pedestal.
Measurements: 60 x 35 x 20 cm.

Charles Van Oemberg was a virtuoso carver, as can be seen in this white marble bust titled "La châtelaine": a girl of jovial appearance and laughing expression. Her hair tied up with a ribbon and the floral brooch that adorns her dress add a costumbrista note to the portrait, which, moreover, is not intended to typify the model but to individualize her.

Charles Van Oemberg, born Charles Joseph Vanoemberg was a Belgian sculptor. He studied at the Academy of Brussels as a student of Louis Jehotte and worked in the workshop of Charles Auguste Fraikin. Van Oemberg produced, among other things, busts, sculptural groups, memorials and statues. He participated in national and international exhibitions, including the Brussels (from 1851) and Antwerp Salons, the Universal Exhibition (1867) in Paris and the Brussels Universal Exhibition (1888). Van Oemberg succeeded Charles Brunin as professor at the Academy of Mons in 1883. Among his students were Léon Gobert, Emil Van den Bossche and Charles Van der Stappen. In 1899, Van Oemberg was succeeded by Paul Du Bois. Some works: 1859 Allegory of Belgium, monument in Waver on the occasion of the silver jubilee of the government.1858-1859: statues of Mary of Brabant, Ode of Ardennes, Louis III the Younger and Liutgard for the facade of the town hall of Brussels. 1862: bust of the architect Tieleman Franciscus Suys (1783-1861) around 1864: bust of King Leopold I of Belgium. 1866 Bust of Lieutenant General Chapelié for a monument at the Ecole Militaire.1867 Statue of Saint-Just for the church of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode. 1871 Allegorical sculptures of America and Europe for the side façade of the Brussels Stock Exchange.1874: sculptures of Elizabeth of Denmark and Mary of Hungary for the façade of the Brussels Town Hall. 1875: bust of the politician Eugène Defacqz (1797-1871), collection of the Court of Cassation. 1878 Bust of the artist Jean-Baptiste Madou, collection of the Charlier Museum.