Pieter d'Hont
Hilversum, 24 April 1917 – Utrecht, 12 June 1997
Pieter Hermanus d'Hont was a prominent Dutch sculptor, best known as the unofficial city sculptor of Utrecht. He left behind a large number of statues in Utrecht and other Dutch cities, including the famous statue of Anne Frank.
D'Hont studied at the Rijksacademie in Amsterdam and was strongly influenced by his teacher Jan Bronner, who had the vision that art should serve society. This principle is reflected in the figurative character of his work.
One of his best-known works is the statue "Edison", which is awarded annually during the Edison Music Awards, the oldest music prize in the Netherlands. He also made a fountain in Zwijndrecht, a large relief for the RIVM in Bilthoven (in collaboration with Arie Teeuwisse) and portraits of various famous Dutch people, including Queen Beatrix.
D'Hont worked with various materials such as stone, bronze, ceramics, concrete and wood. His oeuvre is versatile and includes monumental wall reliefs, freestanding sculptures, small sculptures and medals. His studio was located in Utrecht, where many of his works of art can be found in public spaces, such as the sculpture "Ponyrijden" on the Mariënburg and "Vrouw met Stola". After Utrecht, most of his sculptures in public spaces can be found in Zwijndrecht.
His work is characterised by a combination of classical figuration and poetic expressiveness, in which he deliberately allowed the texture of the material to speak instead of polishing it smooth. In this way, he distinguished himself within Dutch sculpture of the twentieth century.
In short, Pieter d'Hont was a versatile artist who, with his figurative and socially engaged sculpture, made a lasting contribution to Dutch art and public spaces, with a special bond with the city of Utrecht and Zwijndrecht. Work by Pieter d'Hont can be found in museums and many cities throughout the Netherlands.
D'Hont studied at the Rijksacademie in Amsterdam and was strongly influenced by his teacher Jan Bronner, who had the vision that art should serve society. This principle is reflected in the figurative character of his work.
One of his best-known works is the statue "Edison", which is awarded annually during the Edison Music Awards, the oldest music prize in the Netherlands. He also made a fountain in Zwijndrecht, a large relief for the RIVM in Bilthoven (in collaboration with Arie Teeuwisse) and portraits of various famous Dutch people, including Queen Beatrix.
D'Hont worked with various materials such as stone, bronze, ceramics, concrete and wood. His oeuvre is versatile and includes monumental wall reliefs, freestanding sculptures, small sculptures and medals. His studio was located in Utrecht, where many of his works of art can be found in public spaces, such as the sculpture "Ponyrijden" on the Mariënburg and "Vrouw met Stola". After Utrecht, most of his sculptures in public spaces can be found in Zwijndrecht.
His work is characterised by a combination of classical figuration and poetic expressiveness, in which he deliberately allowed the texture of the material to speak instead of polishing it smooth. In this way, he distinguished himself within Dutch sculpture of the twentieth century.
In short, Pieter d'Hont was a versatile artist who, with his figurative and socially engaged sculpture, made a lasting contribution to Dutch art and public spaces, with a special bond with the city of Utrecht and Zwijndrecht. Work by Pieter d'Hont can be found in museums and many cities throughout the Netherlands.
