Florent Willems

He was successful with his genre scenes depicting a few figures in an interior executed in the style of the 17th century Flemish and Dutch Baroque.

He was particularly praised for his ability to render realistically the materials of the clothes of his figures which earned him the nickname of the 'modern Ter Borch'.

[5] Willems' interest in depicting women in interiors clearly had an influence on Stevens' own choice of subject matter.

[6] At the 1850 Salon of Brussels he exhibited the historical work Public sale of paintings in 17th century Antwerp, for which he was granted the Chevalier cross in the Order of Leopold of Belgium.

Willems' genre scenes depicting one or more figures in an interior executed in the style of the 17th century Dutch Baroque were therefore warmly received by contemporary critics.