Jan Hermanus Melcher Tilmes lived and worked in Amsterdam almost all his life. Initially he specialized in painting landscapes with cattle and forest views, later he focused more and more on Amsterdam cityscapes. Melcher Tilmes not only painted the well-known spots, such as the Muntplein, the Ronde Lutherse Kerk and the Westerkerk, but also countless picturesque, lesser-known parts of the city. People often play a subordinate role in this. His early works are fine and detailed, but his touch became looser over the years. In addition, his use of colour has also developped/ His brown-green palette gradually became more colourful and lighter.