Charles-Joseph Count of Lichtervelde

Charles Joseph Francois Xavier Hyacinthe, Comte de Lichtervelde, Baron de Herzelles and de Heyne, was born into one of the oldest aristocratic families in Flanders. Many relatives held prominent positions from the thirteenth century, such as alderman and mayor of major cities like Bruges, Ghent, Ypres, and Antwerp.

Lichtervelde married twice. His first wife, Marie Josephe Guilaine de Lens, died in 1767 after one year of marriage. They had one daughter together. He married again in 1769: Albertina de Cassina, Comtesse de Wonsheim (1749-1816). Together, they had four sons and four daughters.

In 1801, Lichtervelde sold off his art collection at auction in London. The painting Peintre devant son chevalet by Adriaen Brouwer (Schloss German no. 32/ French no. 46), which ended up in the Adolphe Schloss Collection, was one of the paintings sold at that auction.