Ernst Mayer, a German sculptor of the 19th century, studied under renowned sculptor Antonio Cavaliere during his apprenticeship in 1810. This period exposed him to various aspects of sculpture, metal casting, ornamentation, and even the Italian language, which proved valuable during his later sojourn in Rome. After completing his training in 1813, Mayer continued his artistic pursuits under Isopi at the art school in Ludwigsburg and gained experience as a model builder in an iron foundry.
In 1818, the twenty-two-year-old Mayer, accompanied by his teacher Isopi, was invited to Munich by Leo von Klenze. He became part of Klenze's workshop and simultaneously enrolled in the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. Over the next few years, Mayer engaged in the restoration of ancient artefacts for the Glyptothek, initially working alongside Isopi and later independently. Notably, Mayer contributed to the creation of significant marble reliefs for the Walhalla, executing the impressive "Aurora" and the captivating "Beginning of the Exodus of the Teutons from the Caucasus," based on designs by Johann Martin von Wagner. He crafted a bust of Berthold von Henneberg, the Mainz Elector and Archchancellor, for the Walhalla project.