Francis van Bossuit

Francis van Bossuit (probably 1635, Brussels - 22 September 1692, Amsterdam) was a Flemish sculptor. He mainly carved sculptures in ivory. Only a few sculptures in wood and terracotta by his hand are known. His work shows a penchant for classicism which was probably derived from his exposure to ancient and contemporary Italian art during his stay in Rome as well as his knowledge of the Baroque classicism of the sculptors active in Versailles. The exuberance of some of his works also reflects his training in Flemish Baroque sculpture.

Life There is little documentary information about van Bossuit's life. In 1727, Matthys Pool published in Amsterdam the Beeld-snijders kunst-kabinet door den vermaarden beeldsnijder Francis van Bossuit in yvoor gesneeden en geboetseert (English translation: Cabinet of sculpture carved and sculpted in ivory by the renowned sculptor Francis van Bossuit), a collection of ninety engravings after sculptures by van Bossuit, which was translated the same year into French as Cabinet de l'art de schulpture par le fameux sculpteur Francis Van Bossuit, exécuté en yvoire ou ébauché en terre, gravées d'après les desseins de Barent Graat, par Mattys Pool. The majority of the engravings were made by Matthys Pool from drawings by his father-in-law, the painter Barend Graat. The book contains a biography of van Bossuit based on information from Graat, who knew van Bossuit since his arrival in Amsterdam. Most of the information we have on van Bossuit can be traced back to this biographical note. It is not certain that this information is always correct.

Van Bossuit remained in Amsterdam until his death on 22 September 1692.