 It is commonly believed that in Bologna it became too warm under the feet of Van Kerckhoven, after compromising contacts with the clandestine Carbonari movement.In Antwerp he would continue his medical studies at the "Elisabeth hospital", but he would give them up quite rapidly.During that training he got acquainted, as it happens, with the students and Hendrik Conscience, who almost immediately recognized his artistic talent and introduced him to the romantic artist group of the city.