Jakob Jacobs (1812-79) worked in Louvain, and became a student at the Koninklijke Academie voor Schone Kunsten in Antwerp, in 1832. He went on to study in Italy and Greece, and visited Russia, Scandinavia and France collecting subjects for his art, in particular coastal views. He was appointed teacher of landscape painting at the Koninklijke Academie voor Schone Kunsten in Antwerp in 1843 or 1849, and was made a Chevalier of the Ordre de Léopold in 1849 as a reward for his painting, Wreck of the Floridan. Following an exhibition of his works, in 1884 he was promoted to the rank of officer. He successfully combined the Romantic passion for the Orient and historical subjects with his natural penchant for the sea – qualities that put him in a rank above his fellow Belgian seascape painters of the 19th century.

There are two works by Jacobs in the collection: this one acquired by Prince Albert in 1853 and another (RCIN 408943) commissioned by him a year later as its pair. This one is a port scene on the Bosphorous, with the sun setting over the west bank on the left; various passengers wait to board a ferry boat, including a man with a staff and a group of women by some steps. Larger craft with sails set, occupy the middle distance.

Engraved by Thomas Abiel Prior, and published by Thomas Agnew & Sons, 1854. A painting by the artist of a similar view Sultan Abdülmecid arriving at the Nusretiye Complex was sold at Sothebys, 15th March 1989.