He was born in
Karlsruhe to the family of a civil engineer. In 1857, when he was fifteen, his father was awarded a contract to design bridges, roads and dams in Brazil. Ferdinand and his brother Franz were able to accompany him. Over the course of a four-year stay, he was able to teach himself drawing by sketching the tropical landscape. Shortly after their return, he enrolled at the
Academy of Fine Arts, Karlsruhe, where he studied with
Johann Wilhelm Schirmer, the former Director of the academy. After Schirmer's death, he studied with
Ludwig des Coudres. ==Selected paintings==