Kirchbach was the son of the historical painter E. S. Kirchbach and was born in London. He was encouraged by his father to pursue a career in painting and was sent in 1874 to study in Dresden under Pohle, Powels and Gross. In 1878, he went to Munich to study with Alexander von Wagner and in 1883, he moved to Paris to work in the studio of Munkaczy. He was greatly inspired by Munkaczy's large, dramatic religious compositions. In 1889, he became a teacher at the Steadel Art Institute in Frankfurt and in 1896 he moved to Munich to accept directorship of the Munich Academy of Art where he stayed until his death in 1912.

Kirchbach took eight years to paint Christ and the Children. When it was exhibited in the Paris Salon of 1895, it received an honorable mention, the highest honor ever bestowed on Kirchbach for his painting. It is said to have been widely exhibited in Europe and the United States prior to being purchased by Mrs. Clubb in 1925.

The subject is taken from Mark 10:12-16.