Cornelius was Overbeck’s fellow-founder of the group of artists known as the Nazarenes; Schnorr wrote to Overbeck asking to join the group before coming to Italy with Olivier. Lund studied with Overbeck and Cornelius and also joined the Nazarenes. Mendelssohn’s uncle, Prussian consul in Rome, commissioned Overbeck, Cornelius and others to paint biblical frescos in his house; Mendelssohn himself visited Overbeck’s studio, though he scorned the minor Nazarenes. Thorvaldsen, also working in Rome, bought one of Overbeck’s paintings for his collection.