Joseph Henri Teixeira de Mattos [commonly known as Henri Teixeira de Mattos; also known as Henry Teixeira de Mattos] was born in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on 21 December 1856. He studied under August Allebé, Bart van Hove, and Frans Stracké at the at the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam from 1871 to 1879. He then lived in Rome from 1879 to 1881 before returning to Amsterdam, where he embarked on a career as a sculptor. Teixeira de Mattos was known for his sculptures of animals, some of which were realised in porcelain. He frequently visited ARTIS, the Amsterdam Zoo, and London Zoo where he went for inspiration. In 1892 he made a bust of the actress Sophie de Vries, which was used for her grave monument. He had a studio almost opposite ARTIS at Plantage Franselaan 25 (now Henri Polaklaan) in Amsterdam.