(1826-1870)
Charles de Groux was born in Comines, France, and his parents settled in Brussels in 1833. He studied painting with François Joseph Navez, among others, and, following a visit to Germany, de Groux dedicated himself to producing pictorial representations of the economically and socially downtrodden. His works, painted in subdued colors, capture the poignant sadness of the lower classes in 19th-century Belgium. He enjoyed considerable success and his best work is considered to be Pélérinage à Dieghem (Pilgrimage to Dieghem).
Historical Dictionary of Brussels. Paul F. State.