Lambertus Hardenberg, born in The Hague in 1822, made a name for himself as a painter of Dutch city and river views. In addition, after his education at the Hague Academy, he played a central role in the artist's life in that city. Every Friday afternoon there was a model drawing in his studio and afterwards a party was celebrated. His figure studies, the result of these meetings, became widely known. In 1847 he founded together with Willem Roelofs, J.H. Weissenbruch and Van Hove a painting society for model drawing, art appreciation and promotion of the interests of the visual arts: Pulchri Studio.