In 1814, he moved to Amsterdam and became a student of Mattheus Ignatius van Bree. Later, he worked with Jurriaan Andriessen, a decorative painter. He continued his studies in Antwerp, then established himself in Amsterdam.
In 1823, he spent some time in Kassel and Dresden, studying Italian statuary.
After 1829, he became a lecturer at the Koninklijke Academie voor Beeldende Kunsten, where his students included Christoffel Bisschop and Jacques Carabain. In 1834, he created what are, perhaps, his most familiar works.
A set of canvases honoring January van Speyk, a Dutch navy lieutenant who blew up his ship and himself, rather than surrender it to Belgian forces. Shortly after, on the recommendation of his friend, Thorbecke, he received a commission to produce a painting depicting the "Vrijwillige Jagers", a volunteer unit from Leiden University that distinguished itself during the Ten Days" Campaign against Belgian revolutionaries.
In 2000, a detail from one his paintings of Van Speyk was used on the Dutch 80 euro cent postage stamp.
Participant of a commemorative set celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Rijksmuseum.