He was descended from a noble family and his father was a postmaster, which resulted in frequent moves for the family. Upon his father"s request, he went to Vienna in 1864 to study law, but began preparatory studies at the Academy of Fine Arts and became a student of Albert Zimmermann in 1866.
He displayed an early talent for art and his first lessons came from Pál Böhm in Arad. Three years later, he participated in a major exhibition in Munich, where he first came into contact with painters of the Barbizon school. This was followed by an invitation to London, made by a major art dealer there, and his discovery of the works of John Constable.
By this time, his health had noticeably deteriorated (possibly from tuberculosis) and he suffered an accident at home, which resulted in a serious brain injury.
He was placed in a nursing home, but never recovered, dying in the Spring of 1879 at the age of only thirty-three.
