 Her parents were of Norwegian ancestry, and her father was a well-known painter who had studied at the "Académie de peinture et de sculpture" in Paris, France.When Schultz was eight, her father obtained a commission to paint the king and queen of Württemberg in Germany and the family moved to Europe.After completing the royal commission, Schultz's father continued to receive requests for portrait painting and decided to stay in Europe, establishing a studio in Paris.