[4] He and Auguste Bachelin,[citation needed] later a fellow artist, took private drawing lessons with Louis Wallinger from 1845 to 1848.

Anker moved to Paris, where he studied with Charles Gleyre and attended the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in 1855–60.

[1] During his studies, Anker produced a series of works with historical and biblical themes, including paintings of Luther and Calvin.

[1] Although Anker did paint occasional scenes with a social significance, such as visits by usurers or charlatans to the village, his affirmative and idealistic Christian world-view did not include an inclination to issue any sort of overt challenge.

They depict both rural and urban table settings in the tradition of Chardin, their realist solidity reflecting Anker's vision of a harmonic and stable world order.

[1] In addition, Anker created hundreds of commissioned watercolours and drawings, mostly portraits and illustrations, including for an edition of Jeremias Gotthelf's collected works.

[1] Their parochial motives belie the open-mindedness towards contemporary European art and events that Anker's correspondence reflects.