Emil Mayer

• Name — Dr. Emil Mayer • Honorific Suffix — FRPS • Born — 3 October 1871 • Birthplace — Neubydzow, Bohemia • Died — 8 June 1938 • Place of death — Vienna, Austria • Education — University of Vienna • Known for — Photography • Movement — Pictorialism • Elected — * Wiener Amateur-Photographen-Klubs (President, 1907 – 1927) • Royal Photographic Society (Member, 1926; Fellow, 1927) • Photographic Society of Philadelphia (Honorary Member, 13 December 1927)

Emil Mayer was born on 3 October 1871 in Neubydzow, Bohemia (now Nový Bydžov, Czech Republic) to Leopold and Anna Mayer. In the summer of 1882, Mayer moved with his family to Vienna, Austria, where “his father set up business as a merchant.” From 1891 to 1896, Mayer studied law at the University of Vienna, where he earned the Juris Doctor.

While still a student, Mayer left the Jewish community and converted to Catholicism. On 8 March 1894 he was baptized at the Johann Nepomuk Church (Leopoldstadt) under the name Robert Emil. The painter Max von Esterle was his godfather.

On 6 June 1903 he married Elisabeth Deutsch (18 March 1882 – 8 June 1938).

To escape persecution from the Nazi regime after the annexation of Austria in March 1938, Mayer and his wife died by suicide in their home (BöcklinStraße 12) in Vienna on 8 June 1938.

• Illustration — Kaffeehausrunde, Babenbergerstrasse, Vienna. (Reflection of Emil Mayer in the window). After Mayer completed his studies at the University of Vienna, he established a law practice at Salvatorgasse 10 in Vienna. Mayer's first experience in photography was as an amateur, and he was a member of several Viennese photographer associations that focused on artistic photography. His artistic photos include documentary images of Wienerstraße images. Mayer was an honorary member of many domestic and foreign photographers' clubs. He also authored a textbook and was awarded several patents for photographic devices.

• Illustration — Orden und Ehrenzeichen, Stock im Eisen Platz, Vienna • Illustration — Vor dem Juweliergeschäft, Graben 7, Vienna • Illustration — Fiaker und Wasserer vor dem Kodak-Geschäft Graben 29, Vienna • Illustration — Zugmensch, Ledererhof, Am Hof 11, Vienna • Illustration — Plakatankleber, Vienna • Illustration — Dienstbotin und Soldaten am Radetzkyplatz, Vienna • Illustration — „Mistbauer“ bei der Müllbeseitigung, Vienna