They shared a studio in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode and often served as models for each other. A large inheritance from their family enabled them to lead a Bohemian lifestyle. David married in 1866, which proved to be a difficult adjustment for Pieter, but he was eventually reconciled to it. In 1875, they began to achieve some success. The critic Camille Lemonnier praised their work, which led to numerous sales and commissions. In 1880, David won a gold medal at the triennial Brussels Salon. They began exhibiting more widely, including a large display at the Exposition Universelle (1889).