Emma Meyer was an accomplished Danish painter of scenes and naturalistic landscapes.
Born in Flensborg, Meyer’s father was a supreme court assessor and she was raised in comfortable surroundings. Usually, the family had one or two staff employed in domestic duties. She studied under various tutors of note including Emilie Mundt (1842-1922) and Marie Luplau (1848-1925) at the painting school for women, and, later, Harald Foss (1843-1922) and the eminent Peder Severin Krøyer (1851-1909).
With Foss, the landscape painter, she built upon her innate drawing ability by working among nature. Foss was a proponent of naturalism and believed that views should be represented realistically without over-embellishment or romantic indulgences. Meyer produced numerous landscapes throughout her career, many from the Silkeborg region, which were shown at the foremost venues in Denmark.
From here, she spent time with Krøyer and developed her figure painting nous. Indeed, the master’s hand is evident in her scenes, which is reminiscent of his earlier style.
Emma Meyer, Women Doing Decorative Work at the Royal Porcelain Factory (1895)
In 1885, with her career now underway, she debuted at the Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition in Copenhagen where she continued to exhibit until 1922, missing only a handful of years. Several accolades followed, including a scholarship from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts (1896), The Södring Encouragement Prize (1901) and a lifetime grant from the Louise Ravn-Hansen Fund (1916). It appears she remained in the family home throughout her life, dedicated to her art and the pursuit of excellence.
She’s represented at the Statens Museum for Kunst and the Vejle Kunstmuseum.
Exhibited
Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition, Artists' Autumn Exhibition, Nordic Exhibition, Kleis' Autumn Exhibition, Women's Exhibition, The Town Hall Exhibition, The National Exhibition in Aarhus, Women Artists Retrospective Exhibition.
Public Collections
Vejle Kunstmuseum, Statens Museum for Kunst.
Timeline
1859
Born in Flensborg, (at the time part of Denmark), to Fritz Meyer, a supreme court assessor, and his wife, Marie Frederikke Meyer (nee Dalberg).
1870
Lived with her parents, siblings and staff in Copenhagen.
Studied at the drawing and painting school for women under Emilie Mundt (1842-1922) and Marie Luplau (1848-1925).
Studied under Harald Foss (1843-1922) and Peder Severin Krøyer (1851-1909).
1880
Lived with her parents, siblings and staff in Copenhagen.
1885
Lived with her mother and four sisters in Copenhagen. She lived next door to Danish artist Hans Anton Thiele (1838-1902).
Debuted at the Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition in Copenhagen where she continued to exhibit until 1922, missing only a handful of years.
1890
Lived with her mother, three sisters, Marie (33), Julie (32), Jenny (23), brother, Carl (29), and staff in Copenhagen.
1895
Her painting of women working at the Royal Porcelain Factory was shown at the Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition and purchased by the Danish Art Association.
1896
Awarded a scholarship from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.
1901
Awarded the The Södring Encouragement Prize.
Lived with her mother and three sisters in Copenhagen.
1916
Awarded a lifetime grant from the Louise Ravn-Hansen Fund.
1921
Died in Frederiksberg, Denmark.
Many of her works may be seen at the Vejle Kunstmuseum.