“Painter of Greek and Roman subjects, set in scenes of remarkable archaeological and architectural accuracy. His paintings are always recognizable for their brilliant luminosity, and exquisite rendering of marble, silver, gold, bronze and silks. Born in Dronryp, Holland. In 1852 entered the Antwerp Academy, where Louis de Taye, the Professor of Archaeology, much influenced his work. In 1860 became assistant and pupil to Baron Leys. Settled in London in 1870. His output was prolific. He numbered all of his works with roman numerals, his first work, painted when he was 15, being opus I ‘Portrait of my Sister’. His last work, opus CCCCVIII, ‘Preparations’, was painted two months before his death. In 1906 he was awarded the Royal Gold Medal by the RIBA for his promotion of architecture in painting. He also produced stage designs for Sir Henry Irving’s Coriolanus 1901 and Cymbeline 1896 and for Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree’s Julius Caesar and Hypatia. Exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1869, Old Watercolour Society, Grosvenor Gallery and New Gallery. He had many followers and imitators. His wife Laura and his daughter Anna were also painters, who closely followed his style. Forgeries of his work do exist, many of which are falsely signed and numbered CCCXXXVIII or CCCXXVIII.”

(Biographical source: Wood, Christopher. The Dictionary of Victorian Painters. 2nd ed. Woodbridge: Antique Collectors' Club, 1978. Print.)