Albert Gregorius

1774 – 1853

Belgian painter active in Bruges. His first teacher was François van der Donckt, a local amateur painter who helped him enrol at the art academy where he studied from 1791 to 1793 and won several awards. In 1801, he went to Paris, where he was apprenticed to Joseph-Benot Suvée, who was also from Bruges. When Suvée went to Rome to become Director of the French Academy, Gregorius found a position in the studios of Jacques-Louis David. In 1805, he was back in Bruges, making preparations to enter the Prix de Rome, but fell ill and was unable to participate. After his recovery, he returned to Paris and remained there until 1835. He soon established a reputation as a portrait painter and formed an association with other expatriate Flemish artists ("De Club van de Belgen"). After exhibiting in the Ghent Salon, he entered the Paris Salon in 1812 and would continue to display there annually until his departure. At the age of 61, he received an appointment as Director of "De Vrije Academie" (now "De Stedelijke Academie") in Bruges. He served until 1852, when he was forced to resign after clashes with colleagues, students and city officials over his conservative approach to art. His best-known student was Ford Madox Brown.

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