Jacob Jacobs studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, Belgium. He continued his studies while still in Louven, Belgium, where he came into contact with the works of Ludolf Bakhuizen and Adriaen van de Velde, under the influence of which he turned his attention towards maritime painting.

He made his debut at the exhibition in 1833. A year later he set off on a trip to the North Sea, and then visited the Netherlands. These wanderings provided him with a lot of inspiration. At that time, he made numerous sketches, which he used in his later easel compositions.

The following years were full of travels. This time the artist chose a different, more exotic direction. He went on a cruise visiting Gibraltar, Egypt and As...