Paul Meissner was originally an Austrian painter and from 1954-75 was president of the Wiener Sezession. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts Wien (Vienna) and later in Roma. He was student of Ferdinand Andri at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna and later studied in Rome. His most recognized work was Das Wunderteam (The wonderful team), depicting a picture of the football team from Austria, between 1931 and 1933, entering Wembley Stadium. Meissner submitted his 1936 work for the Art Competitions in Berlin in the category Architecture, the unrealized Weiheraum und Stelle des Olympischen Feuers (Hallowing Room and Location for the Olympic Fire) decorated with a mosaic pattern, together with his compatriots Ferdinand Andri and Hubert Matuschek.