Alexander van Papenhoven

Alexander van Papenhoven (Antwerp, 14 July 1669 – Antwerp, 15 February 1759) was a Flemish sculptor, architect and art educator, who is best known for the furniture which he made for the principal churches in Flanders. He worked mainly in Antwerp, but early in his career he was also active for some years in Denmark.

He played an active role in the administration of the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke and the Academy of Antwerp, in an attempt to revive the arts in Antwerp. His oeuvre stands at the juncture in Flemish sculpture when the flamboyance of the High Baroque gave way to Classicism which emphasized the clarity of design. He probably collaborated with his master on the high altar of the St. Mary's Church in Lübeck around 1697.

On 16 November 1698 he married Maria Bruynel or Bruyneel in the Saint Georges Church in Antwerp. His wife died in 1708 and was buried on 2 June 1708. It was much admired by his contemporaries. In his collection of poems entitled (Spring and Other Poems) published in 1749, the German poet Ewald Christian von Kleist dedicated two poems to the work. One of the poems is titled ('On the statue of Venus up against whom Amor is nestled'). The statue is now located at Oranienburg near Berlin.