Gerrit Toorenburgh, born in Amsterdam, was trained by the city painter Jan ten Compe (1713-1761). Toorenburgh also specialized in cityscapes. In 1764 he became a member of the Guild of Saint Luke in Haarlem. Meticulously and topographically correct, he painted architecture and everyday life in villages and towns. The cityscapes often feature an excellent, typically Dutch cloud cover.