page_title: Petrus Norbertus van Reysschoot
section_title: Work
hierarchical_section_title: Petrus Norbertus van Reysschoot / Work
context_page_description: Petrus Norbertus van Reysschoot or Pieter Norbert van Reysschoot was a Flemish painter, draughtsman, decorator, educator and art collector. He spent his career in Ghent. He is known for his decorative projects in local residences and churches and in particular his grisaille paintings. His subject matter ranged from landscapes, allegories, mythological and religious stories, genre scenes and trompe-l'oeil still lifes.
context_section_description: Petrus Norbertus van Reysschoot was a prolific painter who painted landscapes, allegories, mythological and religious stories, genre scenes, seascapes, landscapes, portraits and trompe-l'oeil still lifes.  He was mainly active as a decorative painter working on commissions for individuals and religious institutions. He also painted temporary decorations for theater performances, ceremonies and festivities. He further designed statues and architectural elements of buildings. 
  He applied himself especially to grisaille painting, a genre then very much in fashion for its imitation of white marble bas-reliefs. Van Reysschoot gave this genre a new importance in the field of religious subjects. His main work, which made him especially known, is the series of eleven grisailles which decorate the choir of the Saint-Bavo Cathedral in Ghent, above the stalls of the choir. Five of these panels represent scenes from the Old Testament, the other six, episodes borrowed from the Gospel. These paintings were placed in the church from 1789 to 1791. 
  Van Reysschoot did not limit himself to monochrome painting alone as he was also a good colorist. He sometimes worked in both genres simultaneously. This is  obvious in the decoration of the splendid residence of the Counts of Hane-Steenhuyse, where he created works in grisaille along colored walls and ceilings.
caption: Study of putti
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