Constant Mayer

American (1832-1911)

Genre and portrait painter Constant Mayer was born in Besacon, France in 1832, and studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. He moved to New York in 1857 and became a US citizen, although he traveled back to France a number of times. Mayer lived in New York until 1895 when he returned to Paris for the remainder of his life. Mayer exhibited at the Paris Salon and the National Academy of Design; he also won the Legion of Honor award in 1869. His works are in the collections of the national museums in Besancon and Digne, France.

Mayer’s works were popular in both Paris and New York, and many of his works were life size. He painted portraits of several famous generals including Sherman and Grant, but also painted more intimate genre scenes as well.