Willems was born in Liege, Belgium on January 8, 1823 and died in Neuilly-Sur-Seine (Just outside of Paris) sometime around October of 1905.  He is considered a portrait and genre painter.

The following quote is by Edmond About1 Salon de 1864 from a book entitled Artists of the 19th Century page 353. "Men of taste have almost worn mourning for Willems. He made his debut with a pretty picture representing a blond woman in a white satin dress, a hundred others wished to place in their galleries the same woman and the same dress. The public who do not buy, but who judge, have ended by imagining that Willems exhibited always one and the same picture; then noticed it no more.  Happily for us the commands have ceased, and the artist, who is after all, an excellent painter, has felt need of something else.  His two pictures of this year (1L 'Accouche' and La Sortie) show a true advance.  The artist has not only regained his commercial value but also a large part of his legitimate popularity..."

Willems received his artistic training while attending lectures at the Malines Academy.  He had his first exhibition and sold his first painting at the age of sixteen for a healthy sum of 250 francs.   To support his education, he worked in a Gallery in Brussels as a restorer.  Before he was eighteen, Willems found a friend and patron in Sir Hamilton Seymour, who commissioned him to paint portraits of his wife and children.   It was through this patronage and his first exhibition that Willems received tremendous success and positive critical acclaim.   In 1842 he exhibited in Brussels "Le Corps-de-Garde" and "Music-lesson" (purchased by the late King of Belgium) and received a Medal.  Willems continued to receive commissions from the court to paint 16th and 17th century costume paintings.

In 1844, Willems decided that to continue his career he must travel to Paris.  It was just prior to this move, Willems became very interested in Dutch 17th Century Masters.  He started to study paintings and the academic techniques of Terburg, Metsu and Miens and especially his friend and fellow artist Alfred Stevens.   Stevens and Willems shared all the secrets they discovered while studying the techniques of the masters.   It was Florent Willems who helped Alfred Stevens progress with his abilities to paint beautiful ladies.   It was this subject that the great Belgium artist, Alfred Stevens, became most noted.  While in Paris, Willems continued to win medals and other honors; 1853, Chevalier in the Legion of Honor, officer in 1854 and commander in 1878.  His favorable French acclaim was a result of the Paris Exhibition of 1855 in which he exhibited "The Interior of a Silk-Mercers Shop in 1660 (purchased by Napoleon III) and "Coquetry" (purchased by the Empress).

Willems was also very honored in his own country.  He was elected into the Order of Leopold as a Chevelier in 1853, as an officer in 1864, and commander 1878.  Very few artists have ever achieved so very much during their career. Willems French award alone was equal to all those of William Adolphe Bouguereau’s.  One of Renoir's greatest dreams was to be elected into the Legion of Honor during his lifetime.

The following quote is from James Dafforne, Art Journal, August, 1866.  Artists of the 19th Century, page 352.
"In that particular department of art to which Willems has almost entirely limited his practice, he certainly takes rank with the foremost men of the modern continental schools. His pictures are much in request, and find their way into the best collections, both in his own country and in France. Subject of a character so generally pleasing and placed with such artistic skill and such persuasive beauty on the canvas, can never fail finding patrons in men of taste and judgment."

Florent Willems became so highly respected as an academic painter of 17th and 18th century subjects, he was requested by the Louvre to join their restoration laboratory.  While associated with the Louvre, Willems was given the task of restoring Raphaels "Saint-Jean".  Willems was also an extremely proficient drawer.  He has left many drawings of 17 & 18th century rugs and furniture.

Willems exhibited numerous times but those of note were in 1877, "Aux armes de Flandre", in 1864;  "L' Accouchei" and "Going Out" in 1863; "The Widow" and "The Presentation of the Future", in 1861;   "Au Roi!”  "Preparation of the Bride" was exhibited at the Exhibition of Belgian Art in Brussels in 1880.   In the Belgian Art Exhibition Brussels in 1905 (just after his death) "Farewells", "The Engagement Ring", "Presentation of the Bridegroom1', "The Cobbler", "Kissing Hands", "The Arch of Peace".  All of these paintings were from his collections.  Willems also exhibited in London at the Royal Academy and at Grosvenor Gallery.

The Belgium people love the artist Florent Willems.  They commissioned a portrait by French artist Francois Flameng to paint his portrait which now hangs in the Liege Museum.

Listed:
E.Benezit, Vol. ~X, page 740.
Cyclopedia of Painters and Paintings N.Y., J.D. Champlin,
Jr. and C.C. Perkins (1885-1887).
Encyclopedia Britannica, 14th Edition, London & N.Y., 1929.
Index of Artists, Mallett.  Page 476.
Dictionaire Biographic, illustre des Artists en Belgique (1830).  Page 409.
Dictionary of Artists, Graves.  Page 303.
Artists of the Nineteenth Century, page 352 and 353.
Artists of Belgium, pages 795-798.

Museums
Charlier Museum Brussels
Bruges Museum
Antwerp Museum
Brussels Museum