Anthony Biester was born Anton Biester in Kleve, where he also received his first painting lessons from the Dutch Romantic Barend Cornelis Koekkoek. This was followed by attendance at the Düsseldorf Art Academy under Oswald Achenbach. In 1871 Biester emigrated to the United States with his wife and their son. After a stay in Covington (Kentucky) he moved one year later to Cincinnati, where many German emigrants settled. He joined the Cincinnati Art Club and became one of the city’s best-known painters.