Maurice Mareels

Maurice Mareels (February 9, 1893, Saint-Gilles – October 14, 1976, Uccle) was a Belgian painter. Born in his parents’ home at Rue Blanche 19, Saint-Gilles, to Adolphe Mareels and Jeanne Catherine Pletinckx, he studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels from 1911 to 1914 and again from 1918 to 1919, under the mentorship of Herman Richir. Later, he became a drawing instructor at the Academy of Decorative Arts in Ixelles.

Mareels painted primarily landscapes, still lifes, and portraits, with his landscapes often depicting the Campine region (notably Genk) and Brittany. In 1913, he served in the 9th Line Regiment, known as the “University Company,” which allowed him to continue his studies. On October 22, 1914, he was wounded in the Battle of the Yser. For the remainder of the war, he performed administrative duties in Calais and created paintings depicting battle scenes. In 1970, he published Les carnets d’un fantassin de 1914, recounting his military experiences. In 1941, he also contributed one of the 12 engravings for the album Autour de Bruxelles. Mareels later resided at Rue Colonel Chaltin 90 in Uccle.