Calisch studied at the Royal Academy of Amsterdam under Jan Adam Kruseman and was highly regarded during his lifetime. He’s primarily known for his historical paintings but he also created numerous portraits of the Jewish elite in Amsterdam. Calisch, himself, was of Jewish descent.

In 1842, art writer Johannes Immerzeel described Calisch as “blessed with a more than ordinary gift that manifested itself at a young age” and how “it was a delight to see the variety of fine paintings shown by the young master at our exhibitions”.

Calisch’s works are housed in several museums including the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam where there’s also a self-portrait.