Raymond Lemaire

Canon Raymond Lemaire (1878–1954) was a professor at the Catholic University of Leuven, both student and successor of Joris Helleputte.

Life

Lemaire was ordained to the priesthood in 1901 and graduated with a doctorate in Archaeology and Art History in 1906. From 1907 onwards he taught at the Catholic University of Leuven, at various times giving courses on ecclesiastical architecture, conservation, applied aesthetics and architectural history. He was particularly interested in Romanesque architecture in Belgium. He played an important role in debates about the reconstruction of Leuven after the extensive destruction wrought upon the city during the First World War. Canon Lemaire was the uncle of Baron Raymond M. Lemaire (1921-1997), who would follow him as titular of the chair of Architectural history and conservation of built heritage at the Catholic University of Leuven.

Works

Institute of Agriculture, Heverlee

Even though he was not an architect, Lemaire designed several buildings including the church of the Redemptorists in Leuven (1926-28) and the Institute of Agriculture in Heverlee (1936-39). Among his conservation work of medieval churches, the St Anna's Chapel in Auderghem (1916-17) is a remarkable Romanesque stylistic restoration.

Publications

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Kanunnik Lemaire, Raymond" (in Dutch). Flemish organization for Immovable Heritage. 2020.
  2. ↑ Houbart, C., 2023. Les Lemaire, des monuments au patrimoine. Filiation, émancipation, rémanence, in: Dynasties d'architectes et d'artistes en province aux XIXe et XXe siècles, eds. M. Lavenu and T. Tauziat, Clermont-Ferrand, p. 221-240.

Further reading