Background
He was the son of Pößneck"s Mayor.
He was the son of Pößneck"s Mayor.
He began his artistic training in 1863 at the Academy of Fine Arts. From 1867 to 1870, he was a pupil of Johannes Schilling. After his father died and he lost his means of support, he went to work in Schilling"s studio.
By 1872, he was able to open a studio of his own and take the traditional study trip to Rome.
He was named a full Professor shortly thereafter. Ernst Barlach and Selmar Werner were among his best-known students.
In 1912, he received an appointment as a Geheimrat.
He was made an honorary member of the Academy in 1881. He succeeded Ernst Julius Hähnel at the Master Studio for Plastic Arts and became a member of the Academic Council in 1891. He became a member of the Royal Academy of Arts in 1895.