Adrianus Philippus de la Rivière (Rotterdam 1857-1941) trained at the Rotterdam Academy of Visual Arts. Adriaan was a talented painter. It was not without reason that he received a Royal Subsidy from King William III in 1897 to further his skills in Munich and Italy. Because he became a 'pensionnaire' of the King, he was able to study quietly from 1877-1882. After his return he made numerous important paintings that were highly appreciated. He mainly made oil paintings and watercolors, many strongly narrative genre paintings of everyday life in the city and in the countryside in a light-hearted, impressionistic style. He painted figures, interiors, landscapes, cityscapes, still lifes and portraits.

At the end of the nineteenth century, Adriaan de la Rivière lived for more than a year at Lange Brugstraat 20 in Etten-Leur; first briefly together with the painter couple Richard Bisschop and Suze Robertson and then alone. All three had trained at the Academy of Visual Arts in Rotterdam and regularly exhibited together at that time. The house was owned by amateur painter and businessman Hendrik Dolk, who once captured the church where Vincent van Gogh lived on canvas.

However, Rotterdam was really his city. He was best known for his countless street plays with an abundance of striking characters. However, this work made for trade was never banal or mindless. Between 1894 and 1896 he was a board member of the Rotterdam Art Circle. He exhibited several times, including in the Stedelijk Museum in 1899. He also taught at the Academy in Rotterdam, including Reyer van der Borden and Lizzy Goddard.