His father,
Pascha Johann Friedrich Weitsch, was a well-known artist. His younger brother, , also became a painter. He initially studied with his father. After 1776, he continued his studies with
Johann Heinrich Tischbein in
Kassel. After studying at the
Kunstakademie Düsseldorf with
Lambert Krahe, he obtained a position with the
lacquerware manufacturer, , where his father was a painting instructor. From 1784 to 1787, he lived abroad; first in
Amsterdam, then in Rome and
Florence. Upon returning home, he received an invitation from
Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick, to work as his
court painter. In that capacity, he created numerous portraits of the Duke and his family; both in
Braunschweig and at
Salzdahlum Castle. His portraits often showed the influence of
Anton Graff. In 1794, he was elected a member of the
Prussian Academy of Arts, Berlin, and married Elizabeth Schroeder. The marriage was childless. Following the death of
Bernhard Rode, he went to the academy to teach art history. He was named a
Rector in 1798. That same year, he was appointed a Royal Court Painter. His works may be seen at the
Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum, the , and the
Braunschweigisches Landesmuseum. == Selected paintings ==