Godefroid Devreese (1861-1941)

Born in Courtrai, Devreese studied at the Académie Royale des Beaux Arts in Brussels under Eugène Simonis and Charles Van der Stappen, before making his debut in Paris in 1895 at the Nationale des Beaux Arts after which he regularly exhibited at the Salon. Perhaps best known for his portrait medallions, notably that of Albert I, King of the Belgiums, which was used on the 50 centimes coin of 1912, Devreese also produced figural and animalier sculpture, particularly of equestrian subjects.