She was active in establishing the women's department of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.

They left the island when the father took over the position as district phusician of Skælskør.

The house was designed by Gottlieb Bindesbøll, one of the leading Danish architect of the time.

Her father was friends with the painters P. C. Skovgaard (1817–1875) and Johan Thomas Lundbye (1818-1848) sparking her interest in painting.

At that time she was unable to enroll in the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts (Kongelige Danske Kunstakademi).