Richard Emil Amsler (1859, Schaffhausen – 1934, Schaffhausen) was born and grew up in Schaffhausen. In 1879, Amsler began studying chemistry at the polytechnical school of Karlsruhe, where he later began his research in the synthesis of indigo dye. After completing his studies, Amsler initially continued to work as a chemist before moving to Zurich in 1899 and taking courses in sculpture with Professor Regl at the Kunstgewerbeschule. He also attended Hermann Gattiker's and Ernst Würtenberger's classes and tried his hand at landscape and nude painting. From 1902 to 1907 Amsler made several trips to Italy and the Engadine, Switzerland. Most notably, it was in the regions around Bergün and in the Roman Campagna where he created numerous drawings and watercolours of the surrounding scenery.