| Timeline |
| 1836 |
Born 8 January in the village of Dronrijp, Holland |
| 1851 |
Begins studies at the Antwerp Academy |
| 1859 |
Becomes a pupil of Henrik Leys, joining his studio in Antwerp |
| 1863 |
Marries Marie Pauline Gressin de Boisgirard |
| 1863 |
Visits Pompei |
| 1865 |
Only son dies of smallpox |
| 1869 |
Wife dies |
| 1870 |
Moves to London |
| 1871 |
Marries his seventeen-year-old pupil, Laura Epps |
| 1876 |
Becomes an Associate of the Royal Academy |
| 1879 |
Elected to a full Royal Academician |
| 1899 |
Knighted by Queen Victoria |
| 1905 |
Receives the Order of Merit |
| 1909 |
Lady Laura dies |
| 1911 |
Resigns from the Royal Academy committee |
| 1912 |
Dies 25 June while taking the waters at Wiesbaden, Germany |
