Dominicus Franciscus du Bois

Dominicus Franciscus du Bois studied at Academy of Fine Arts Bruges. The recorded working language is Dutch. Places of work recorded in the authority are Bruges, Antwerp and Paris. Works named in the authority record are Academic life drawing study: standing male nude, seen from behind. Work by Dominicus Franciscus du Bois is recorded in the collections of Noordbrabants Museum, Het Scheepvaartmuseum and Musea Brugge.

• Name — Dominicus du Bois • Birth Name — Dominique François du Bois • Born — 8 November 1800 • Birthplace — Bruges • Died — 27 October 1840 • Place of death — 's-Hertogenbosch • Known for — painting, drawing, teaching

Du Bois was born and raised in Bruges, part of France till 1814, and of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands till 1830. In his hometown Du Bois received his artistic schooling from Joseph-François Ducq. He continued his training with Mathijs van Brée in Antwerp. He completed his education with Baron Gros in Paris.

Du Bois became famous as an artist by painting some works that very much appealed to the nationalist feelings during the Belgian Revolution. In the antechamber of Noordeinde Palace, two works of him had a prominent place: A work about Jacob Hobein and a work about Jan van Speyk. The painting of Van Speyk was 'The Sacrifice of Van Speyk' (De Zelfopoffering van Van Speyk), which drew a lot of attention. In order to prepare for the painting, Du Bois visited a gunboat of the type that Van Speyk commanded at nearby Fort Crèvecoeur. He gifted the painting to the king, who was the protector of the school. In 1978 Du Bois' Van Speyk took center stage at an exposition in the Rijksmuseum about nationalist art. A review of the exposition noted that the esthetic value of the exhibited works was minimal, but that these could also be seen as a form of politically engaged art. The review also noted that for these pictures, historical correctness of known details was much more important than esthetics. This is probably the reason why Du Bois was famous at the time, but now receives hardly any attention. Another reviewer of the 1978 exhibition noted that 'The Sacrifice of Van Speyk' was `very remarkable' because it seemed to be a precursor of magic realism. There is no reason at all to suppose that Du Bois had any significant influence in the development of art. However, the remark seems less outlandish when one compares Dubois' later paintings to his earlier picture which depicts the board of the school.

• Illustration — The board of the Royal School for Applied and Visual arts • Illustration — Return of Jacob Hobein on 19 March 1831 • Illustration — Presentation of regimental colors to the 's-Hertogenbosch militia on 24 July 1831 • Illustration — Litho of Du Bois' painting of Van Speyk

The authorities additionally record the headings Dominique-François Du Bois, Dominicus Franciscus Dubois, D. Dubois and D. du Bois. His recorded language was Dutch.

One work is recorded as notable: Academic life drawing study: standing male nude, seen from behind.

Dominicus Franciscus du Bois is recorded as having studied at Academy of Fine Arts Bruges. Born in 1800 at Bruges.