Painter, illustrator and engraver Léopold Flameng was born in Brussels of French parents and studied under Luigi Calamatta and Jean Gigoux. He is particularly well known for his engravings after works of art by painters including van Eyck, Rembrandt, Delacroix and Ingres; his skills were highly praised during his lifetime. Flameng was awarded the Gold Medal at the Universal Exhibition of 1878, and in 1898 was elected a member of the Academy of Fine Arts. He was also a noted teacher of both painting and engraving until his death at Courgent, near Paris.