Michael Zeno Diemer studied at the Academy in Munich under Gabriel von Hackl and Alexander von Liezen-Mayer. After studying he traveled along the coasts of southern Italy. The artist initially gained recognition with his watercolors of the Alps. In 1891 Diemer was represented in the German exhibition in London. Two years later he traveled to New York, where he created a diorama for the World's Fair in Chicago together with Beatus Wieland.

Mountains and seascapes eventually became the central subject matter of his oeuvre. After the acquaintance with the director of the shipping company Hapag, Diemer undertook regular voyages during which he found many of his motifs. As a passionat...