Jan Baptist Xavery

Jan Baptist Xavery (born Antwerp, March 30, 1697 - died The Hague, July 19, 1742) was a Flemish scuptor active in the Netherlands. Son of the sculptor Albertus Xavery, he likely first studied with his father before entering the studio of Michiel van der Voort. There he stayed until moving to Vienna in 1719; from there he went to Italy, returning in 1721 and settling in The Hague. In 1725 he became a member of that city's painters' guild, the Confrerie Pictura. Also in 1725 he married Maria Christina Robart, with whom he had two sons, Frans and Jacob; both would go on to become painters. in 1729 he became court sculptor to William IV of Orange-Nassau. There is some evidence, too, that he worked briefly around 1737 for Frederick I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel. Xavery died in 1742.

Stylistically, Xavery was influenced at the start of his career by Jacob Marot; later, his style became more elaborate, in works such as the Allegory of Faith of 1735, in the Grotekerk of Haarlem.

Xavery was likely related to the sculptor Pieter Xavery. In addition, his brother Gerard Joseph was also a painter.

Reference

• Biography at Answers.com