He next studied art in Paris (1768–1769).
He was studying at the University of Heidelberg when the Elector of Bavaria, admiring a landscape, aided him to devote his entire time to painting. He became the pupil of Peter Verschaffelt. On his return, he was appointed painter to the Cabinet (court painter), and later professor at the Academy.
In 1793, he moved to Munich.
He was appointed director of the Mannheim (1798) but died in Munich, before entering on his duties. He was a grandson of Johann Heinrich Kobell, who came to Mannheim from Frankfurt in 1720.