 The city at that time was the seat of the Grand Duchy of Hesse under Grand Duke Ludwig III, and a community of artists had sprung up there.Entries in Compton's diary show that both he and his father were art teachers - Alice, the Princess of Hesse numbered amongst Edward's students.Between 1867-68 Compton toured the Rhineland, Mosel and Eifel areas of Germany, making numerous sketches.