Hendrik Willem Mesdag was a Dutch painter born on February 23, 1831, in Groningen, Netherlands. He is best known for his impressive seascapes and landscapes, often capturing the beauty of the North Sea. Mesdag was a prominent member of the The Hague School, a group of artists focused on naturalism and the depiction of light. In addition to his painting, Mesdag was also a successful art dealer and collector. He played a significant role in promoting the works of other artists, including Jozef Israëls and Anton Mauve. His most famous work, the Panorama Mesdag, is a large cylindrical painting that offers a 360-degree view of the coastal landscape near Scheveningen.