Henry Schafer was born in Hanover, Germany in 1841. Although little is known about his upbringing, he was known to have studied at the l'Ecole National de Beaux-Arts in Paris. After leaving art school, he travelled throughout Europe painting town scenes and buildings of Northern France, Belgium and Germany. By 1864, Schafer had travelled to England with his wife Theresa, to work in London where they settled and started a family. All four of their children were born in England. One of his daughters Emilie Anna Schafer (1871-1937) became a painter and art teacher.

Around 1871, the family were living at 53 Vauxhall Bridge Road and in 1881 were recorded as residing at 6, Sophia Terrace, Beulah Road, Thornton Heath in Surrey, with Henry continuing to work as an artist. By 1891, he had moved to 7 St Peters Road in Islington where he lived for the rest of his life. Sometime around the turn of the century, he became a British subject. Schafer is believed to have died in London c1914.

Many of his works depict the architecture of gothic cathedrals and churches, as in these two fine examples. He also produced interior studies of churches. Schafer's style resembles that of Alfred Montague and follows the school of Samuel Prout. His works are highly decorative and are made even more interesting with the inclusion of ordinary folk going about their daily business.