Jacob Maris started painting at age 12 and eventually enrolled in the Hague Academy of Art. An art dealer recognized his talent and saw to it that Jacob was able to work in the studio of Hubertus van Hove. There he painted interiors as well as figurative and genre works. Van Hove moved to Antwerp and the nineteen-year-old Maris went with him. This relationship continued until his brother Matthijs received a royal subsidy and joined Jacob along with friend Lawrence Alma-Tadema. They took lessons at the Antwerp Academy and were able to sell some of their works. In 1857, Jacob Maris returned to the Hague and Matthijs in 1858 and again shared a room in The Hague. Eventually they were able to go to Oosterbeek where they met important artists that were part of the Hague School. The brothers also went on a study trip together to German, Switzerland and France. Eventually Jacob took more lessons at the Hague Academy of Art. In the summer of 1864, Jacob again went to Oosterbeek and possibly to Fontainebleau and Barbizon. Following this trip he lived in Paris from 1865 till 1871, returning to the Netherlands when the Franco-Prussian War broke out. In The Hague, he became a strong landscape painter painting rivers and landscapes with mills and towpaths, and beach views with fishing boats. In 1871, Maris became a member of the Pulchri Studio and would fill various administrative positions there. It was only after 1876 that he experienced any renown in the Netherlands and from 1885 on he was a celebrated painter. As a leader of the Hague School his influence was enormous. He suddenly died on 7 August 1899. He was buried in The Hague.

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