Holmberg was born in Helsinki.
His father was Olof Henrik Holmberg (1799–1863) and mother Josefina Gustava Federley (1806–1840).
His mother passed away from a lung disease and Olof raised his six surviving children with the help of his sisters.
Werner was interested in painting from a young age, taking private lessons from Pehr Adolf Kruskopf and later Magnus von Wright.
He also learned oil painting from Johan Erik Lindh.
In 1848 he became a student at the just-formed Academy of Fine Arts.
However his father Olof wanted his son to study law, so in his first year of university studies he also worked part-time at the National Board of Customs.
At the university he learned painting from Berndt Godenhjelm and von Wright again.
In 1850 he helped Robert Wilhelm Ekman paint frescoes in the Turku cathedral.
In 1853 he finished his studies.
Holmberg was born in Helsinki. His father was Olof Henrik Holmberg (1799–1863) and mother Josefina Gustava Federley (1806–1840). His mother passed away from a lung disease and Olof raised his six surviving children with the help of his sisters. Werner was interested in painting from a young age, taking private lessons from Pehr Adolf Kruskopf and later Magnus von Wright. He also learned oil painting from Johan Erik Lindh. In 1848 he became a student at the just-formed Academy of Fine Arts. However his father Olof wanted his son to study law, so in his first year of university studies he also worked part-time at the National Board of Customs. At the university he learned painting from Berndt Godenhjelm and von Wright again. In 1850 he helped Robert Wilhelm Ekman paint frescoes in the Turku cathedral. In 1853 he finished his studies.
Werner Holmberg