In the mid-19th century, nine Brussels-based art students from François-Joseph Navez's atelier embarked on a transformative journey through Italy to enhance their artistic careers. Art historian Fien Messens examined their correspondence, revealing their struggles and experiences. Handwritten letters addressed to their master in Brussels and preserved at the Royal Library of Belgium shed light on their adventures, including financial challenges, physical hardships, and encounters with the art scene in Rome. The letters served as their means of communication with their mentor, families and Brussels, sharing both successes and failures. This research highlights the arduous yet inspiring path these students undertook to establish themselves as artists, offering a glimpse into the realities of 19th-century study trips and their impact on artistic development.