Joseph Denis Odevaere (1775-1830)

• Was a Southern Netherlandish painter.
• His first art lessons came at the Kunstacademie Brugge, where he studied with François Wynckelman.

• He then moved to Paris, continuing his studies with Joseph-Benoît Suvée and Jacques-Louis David.

• In 1804, he was awarded the Prix de Rome for his painting The Death of Phocion.

• He then spent eight years at several locations in Italy, copying the old masters.

• An exhibition in Ghent two years later led to his appointment as court painter to King William I of the Netherlands in 1815.

• In this position, he began a campaign for the return of several major art works that had been looted from Bruges by the French Army; including pieces by Michelangelo, Jan van Eyck, Hans Memling, and Gerard David.

• In thanks for his successful efforts, the City Council of Bruges voted to award him a gold medal in 1816.

• He was elected a fourth class corresponding member living abroad of the Royal Institute of the Netherlands in 1816.

• In 1818, he married Sylvie de la Rue.

• He was a founding member of the first Société des douze. 

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