Béthune, Jean-Baptiste-Charles-François, Baron

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Béthune, Jean-Baptiste-Charles-François, Baron (1821–94). Belgian architect and designer, known as the ‘Pugin of Belgium’, because of his expertise in the Gothic Revival and his associations with the Pugin clan. He established a team of craftsmen which regularly executed his designs, and gave the Revival in Belgium its own Flemish character, while maintaining contacts with other Goths in England, France, Germany, Austria, and Italy. Two of his best creations are the Vivenkapelle complex, near Brugge (Bruges) (1860–9), and the Castle of Caloen-de-Gourcy in Loppem (1857–63), but his chief importance lies in the training and encouragement he gave to others in promoting the Revival in his country.

Bibliography

Bassegoda Nonell, xxxvi (1879), 350;
Handelingen van de Koninklijke Geschied-en Oudheidkundige Kring van Kortrijk, xxxiv (1965), 3–101, and lxvii (1979), 267–355;
Helbig (1906);
Loo (ed.) (2003);
J. Maeyer (ed.) (1998);
Petra Maclot