Complex sentence: After studying at the Munich Academy, he was at first an animal painter; he then worked at representations of the Thirty Years' War; and only through the study of the works of Metsu and Terborch did he discover his true talent.
Split into simpler sentences: After studying at the Munich Academy he was at first an animal painter. He then worked at representations of the Thirty Years' War and only through the study of the works of Metsu and Terborch did he discover his true talent.