Maria Arndt was born in Munich, the daughter of court actor William Vespermann and the famous singer Clare Butcher Vespermann. Already in childhood, she displayed great musical talents. At the age of twelve, Maria Arndt publicly appeared in concerts. She also wrote occasional poems and dramas, which were initially distributed only within the family circle.

Maria Arndt married the writer Guido Gorres in 1844, with whom she had three daughters. Gorres died in 1852. In 1860, she married Carl Ludwig Arndt in Vienna, the widower of her good friend Bertha Arndt. Carl Ludwig Arndt, who was knighted for his life's work in 1871, died in 1878. Maria Arndt lived in Munich as a widow until her death.

Maria Arndt wrote short stories and dramas and with Mozart as a matchmaker, even a comedy. She was also active as a composer (including a song cycle from Friedrich Wilhelm Weber's epic Dreizehnlinden) and artist.