Autobiographical Questionnaire - Franciscus Andreas Durlet

A rare 1840 biographical questionnaire completed by the Belgian architect Franciscus Andreas Durlet, offering a personal glimpse into his early career.

This document is a completed biographical questionnaire, titled 'Vraagpunten', intended for inclusion in the multi-volume work 'De Levens en Werken der Hollandsche en Vlaamsche Kunstschilders, Beeldhouwers, Graveurs en Bouwmeesters' by Johannes Immerzeel. Dated 20 July 1840, the form provides a primary source account of the early career of the Belgian architect and artist Franciscus Andreas Durlet.

Born in Antwerp in 1816, Durlet details his training under the architect Jean-Baptiste Berckmans and his academic achievements, including a prize for composition in 1839. The manuscript is written in a mix of Dutch and French, reflecting the linguistic environment of the period in Belgium. The text captures the formal administrative process of nineteenth-century biographical documentation, where artists were invited to submit their own details for encyclopaedic records.

Visually, the print presents a structured grid layout typical of nineteenth-century bureaucratic forms. The handwritten entries provide a personal touch, showing the cursive script of the artist as he answers questions regarding his birth, education, and professional travels. The document serves as a record of the professional identity of an architect during the mid-nineteenth century, documenting his transition from a student to a practitioner. The stark contrast between the printed typography and the fluid, ink-penned responses creates a visual balance between the rigid structure of the questionnaire and the individual character of the artist's handwriting. This piece offers a unique perspective on the life of a figure involved in the architectural and artistic circles of Antwerp, providing context for his later contributions to the city's built environment.