Quick Facts
- Baptized:
- Aug. 10, 1691, Antwerp, Belg.
- Died:
- Sept. 12, 1781, Antwerp
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Peter Scheemakers
Belgian sculptor
Peter Scheemakers (baptized Aug. 10, 1691, Antwerp, Belg.—died Sept. 12, 1781, Antwerp) was a Belgian sculptor who was considered a founder of modern sculpture in England.
Scheemakers trained with his father, also a sculptor, in Antwerp before arriving in England sometime prior to 1721. He produced tomb monuments and garden statuary in a restrained classical style. In 1728 Scheemakers traveled to Rome to study sculpture, and, after his return to London in 1730, he quickly established his reputation as one of the foremost sculptors of his day. In 1741 he executed the monument to William Shakespeare in Westminster Abbey, which is distinctive for its portrayal of the playwright in an informal, cross-legged pose.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors.
By clicking “Sign Up”, you consent to the Britannica
Privacy Policy
and
Terms of Use.