Gilles-François-Joseph Closson

Until recently relatively little known, Closson is now considered one of the most significant Belgian landscape painters of the 19th century. Born in Liege, Closson moved to Paris in 1817 to study under the famous history painter, Baron Antoine-Jean Gros (1771-1835). He travelled to Italy in 1824 and gave up history painting to dedicate himself fully to landscape painting. In 1829, he returned to Liege to settle there for good.

Although he failed to achieve the recognition that he desired, he was eventually made professor at the Liege Academy in 1837, a post which he kept until his death.