François Musin

[1] Musin's father was an innkeeper, shipbuilder and oyster farmer who had spent some time in a penal regiment for desertion during the Napoleonic Wars.

His artistic talent was discovered when he was locked in the attic as punishment and used a piece of charcoal to draw a view of the Ostend docks on the wall.

During these years, Musin travelled extensively, visiting Portugal, the Alps, France, North America and Norway, where he may have participated in a whaling expedition.

In 1869, he finally settled in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode where he built a huge garden studio, collected maritime antiques and gave his son Auguste his first art lessons.

In 1869, the Museo del Prado bought his painting "The Cannon Shot - Signal for the Revolt of Cadíz", and he was awarded the Order of Charles III.

His paintings were unusually popular with forgers, leading his son to contrive various means of identifying the originals, including certificates of authenticity and wax stamps.