Louis Van Kuyck

In pursuit of this goal, he enrolled at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, where he studied with Gustaaf Wappers.

At the Antwerp Salon of 1843, he exhibited a scene depicting "Fransken", a character from the short story, "Hoe men schilder wordt" (How one Becomes a Painter), by Hendrik Conscience.

Three years later, he presented "Henri IV bij de molenaar Michaud" (Henry IV with the Miller, Michaud), a "fait-divers" (scene from daily life, with historical figures or events), which was a popular style of genre painting at the time.

In 1852, Queen Victoria was sailing back to England, following a state visit with King Leopold I of Belgium.

When the storm had subsided a bit, the Royal party went to shore in a dinghy where, among other things, they toured a local farm.