Cornelis Johannes de Vogel lived and worked in Dordrecht, but also found inspiration for his paintings in the surroundings of the Gelderland villages of Ruurlo and Vorden. He was a student of the Dordrecht landscape painter H.F. Verheggen. He also worked in the studio of F. Lebret and F. Carlebur, both also working in Dordrecht. De Vogel mainly painted forest and river views and polder landscapes, but also a number of animal pieces. He sold much of his work to Belgium. His landscapes are often upholstered by others, such as H.A. van Trigt, F. Lebret and L. de Koningh.