The Belgian artist Frans Jochems was trained as a sculptor at the academy and at the 'Hoger Instituut' in Antwerp. He then continued his studies in London and Paris. Jochems was mainly known as an animal sculptor, but he also depicted religious themes, made portraits, medallions and, after 1945, a dozen war memorials. For his animal sculptures he regularly made clay studies in the Antwerp Zoo. During the Second World War he worked on the decoration of the Rubens House in Antwerp.