Background
Carl Ferdinand Stelzner was born on December 30, 1805, in Grömitz, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Little is known about Carl Ferdinand Stelzner's early life except that he was adopted by painter Carl Gottlob Stelzner.
Carl Ferdinand Stelzner was born on December 30, 1805, in Grömitz, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Little is known about Carl Ferdinand Stelzner's early life except that he was adopted by painter Carl Gottlob Stelzner.
Carl Stelzner studying with Parisian master Jean-Baptiste Isabey, with his specialty being miniatures
By 1842, Carl Stelzner became fascinated with the daguerreotype process and ceased painting altogether. He collaborated closely with his wife miniature artist Anna Caroline Stelzner, and she would either paint backgrounds or apply tints to his plates. After developing a friendship with fellow daguerreotypist Hermann Biow, the two opened a studio and established themselves as among the earliest news photographers. While their hometown Hamburg burned from May 5th until May 8th, 1842, Biow & Stelzner were there to chronicle the damage in a series of devastating images.
Carl Stelzner applied his skills as a miniaturist to his daguerreotypes, displaying an innate understanding of how to capture a particular image in a manner that demonstrated the timely and aesthetic qualities of photography. Interestingly, the British publication Illustrated London News was forced to rely upon an imaginary view of the inferno, using an old Hamburg print, in their media coverage because they were unaware of the existence of original photographs. Sadly, only three of the Biow & Stelzner daguerreotypes still exist.
For reasons unknown, Carl Stelzner's partnership with Mr. Biow was short-lived, and their studio closed in 1843.
Carl Stelzner opened his own portrait studio that specialized in individual and group portraits. Mrs. Stelzner was her husband's favorite model, and he frequently made daguerreotypes that celebrated the increasing independence of the Victorian woman by emphasizing their artistic inclinations. He quickly became the most sought-after portrait photographer in Germany, but sadly by the early 1850s, Carl Stelzner began losing his eyesight. Although many of his studio's business operations had to be handled by a sighted employee, Carl Stelzner's creative vision continued to guide the photographic output. Sadly, by 1858, the now completely blind Carl Ferdinand Stelzner was forced to sell his studio to Braunschweig daguerreotypist Oskar H. Fielitz.
Carl Stelzner died in Hamburg on October 23, 1894, at the age of 88.
Quotes from others about the person
"His portraits were among the best done by daguerreotype process," writes Gail Buckland (Magic Image); "they display a great sense of composition, awareness of background and props, and naturalness in pose and expression."
Carl Stelzner was married twice. In his first marriage (1834) with his adoptive sister and miniature artist Anna Caroline Stelzner. The marriage was divorced in 1848 by consensus. In 1849 he married Anna Henriette Reiners. Four children came from this marriage: Bruno, Alfred, Waldemar, and Emil.