Career
Neher began to study painting in 1822 in Stuttgart, under Johann Heinrich von Dannecker und Philipp Friedrich von Hetsch, but received his primary instruction at the Academy of Fine Arts Munich with Peter von Cornelius. In 1832, he returned to Munich, where he painted the huge fresco that adorns the arch of the Isartor, depicting the triumphal entry of Emperor Louis after his victory at the Battle of Mühldorf. In 1836 he was summoned to Weimar, to decorate two rooms of the Grand Ducal Palace with murals.
He worked there, off and on, for eleven years.
In 1841, he became Director of the Academy of Visual Arts in Leipzig. He was later induced to return to Stuttgart, where he became a Professor at the Royal Art School.
He was promoted to Director in 1854, but continued to produce many large oil paintings, mostly on religious subjects. In 1878, The Staatsgalerie Stuttgart acquired the frames and designs for his windows.
He resigned his position as Director in 1879.