<b>1865 - 1867 / Gand, Marché aux Oiseaux, 5</b> Firmin Gaston, ° 9.4.1822; + 4.11.1891 (a conflicting source gives 18.10.1881). Pupil at the Antwerp Academy and of the genre painter Henri Joseph Dillens (1812-1872). From 1855, he abandoned painting in favour of photography which he over-painted in oils, but he seems not to have been a photographer himself. "Speciality Portrait. Oil painting on photography and on simple indication without knowing the person [depicted]. Guarantee. Specimen at Monsieur Hoste, bookseller, Rue des Champs [and] Monsieur Avanzo, printseller, ditto. Firmin Bouvy. Artist painter, Marché aux Oiseaux, 5. On Monsieur Lybaert's premises, separate entrance via the alley on Place d'Armes (Journal de Gand, 19.1.1865 to 8.8.1865). <b>1867 * Anvers, Marché aux Oeufs, 2</b> Arrived at this address on 1.5.1867. "Artist painter on photographs. He will visit Ghent, as required, to fill any commissions he may be given. Messrs Tessaro & Co., Rue des Champs, will receive orders" (Le Bien Public, 26.4.1867). Journied to Spain, Australia and South America. By 1877 he was living in San Francisco [California, USA]. In 1878 he exhibited "photographs in oil colors" at the San Francisco Mechanics Institute exhibition and a series of photographs titled "Scenes of Spain" at the San Francisco Art Annual.