Georg Friedrich Meyer was born in Strasbourg. He received his first artistic training in his native city from a landscape painter named Silbermann, and Johann Christian Mannlich reports that Hien was also Meyer's teacher in Strasbourg before the latter went to Paris. In Paris, Meyer, who was at the famous painting school of Francesco Casanova, met Hien and Christian IV. On Hien's recommendation, he finally came to Zweibrücken to further develop his knowledge of animal and landscape painting.

Meyer was often in Mannheim and was also able to travel to Paris several times with the duke's approval, including for longer stays. However, it was not until Charles II August that Meyer was permanently employed as court painter, but after only a few months Meyer requested a leave of absence. He left Zweibrücken in 1776 and never returned. His last home was with his pupil and friend, the Marquis René de Girardin, where he met Rousseau. He died on June 5, 1779 and was buried near Ermenonville.