Cornelis Christiaan Dommelshuizen was born in Utrecht in 1842. He was primarily self-taught and traveled to America, Belgium, England and France, where he became familiar with the schools of painting predominant in each of those countries. He eventually settled in The Hague, and specialized in painting town scenes, scenes on the water, and views along riverbanks. He exhibited in Amsterdam from 1860 until 1892, as well as in various places throughout Holland. He was also known to have signed his name as C. Dommerson, as well as Chr. Dommelshuizen.