Utility box Piet Staut - The Ox

About artist Piet Staut:

He was born on March 29, 1878 and died on June 6, 1933.

Petrus Alfonsus Staut, commonly known in Beverse as the post-impressionist animal painter Piet Staut, had a difficult life. He was born as the son of Petrus Domien Staut and Maria Livina Van Geertsom, modest farmers in what was then Beverse Armstraat. Not too strong physically, he was also timid and withdrawn by nature. Nevertheless, his talent for drawing was evident from an early age.

During his youth he was in contact with the Antwerp painter A. Elsen (1850-1900) and took lessons at the Municipal Drawing School. Supported by the then director O. Angenot and mayor P. Van Raemdonck, he continued his studies at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp.

From 1905 to 1907 he studied at the Higher Institute in Antwerp (with K. Verlat as director) in the studio of F. J. Van Leemputten (1850-1914). One of his fellow students was A. Ost. Around 1910 he exhibited for the first time in the "Hall of the Venerable Brothers". A few years later, he applied for the vacant position of art teacher at the Beaver Academy. The fact that he was rejected continued to torment him. So there was no other option than to give private lessons in his studio. In these financial difficulties, exacerbated by the First World War, the first symptoms of bone disease manifested themselves around 1917. Despite all the worries, this was a fruitful period in which many good animal paintings were created. Later, when the disease affected his freedom of movement more, he focused more on portraiture.

At the end of his life he made a Stations of the Cross for the church of Stekene. In addition, gloomy landscapes reflected his state of mind, when he was threatened by lameness and blindness. Let us not forget its importance due to the influence exerted on young artists. After all, his modest home became the meeting point for a close circle of friends during his active years. Yet he died in solitude. His parents and faithful sister had preceded him.

The memory remains alive because of the Piet Stautstraat named after him and the founding in 1946 of the cultural association Piet Stautkring.  In 1956 his remains were given a place of honour in the new cemetery.

->The art collection of the municipality of Beveren in Hof ter Welle contains a number of works by Piet Staut.

Artwork dimensions: 1275 x 1580 mm

Gemeente Beveren