He was born in
Nusse. His father, Joachim Hermann Carstens, was a doctor. He came from a long line of professionals, established by the jurist, in the 17th century. He studied at the
Grand-Ducal Saxon Art School, Weimar, with the
genre painter
Paul Thumann and the history painter
Ferdinand Pauwels, after which he made study trips to Belgium and the Netherlands. Later, he was attracted to the growing art scene in Munich, and decided to settle there; having several showings at the
Glaspalast and becoming a member of the , where he became an associate of
Franz von Lenbach and other painters who supported the traditional artistic styles. He always remained aloof from the
Secession. Occasionally, he exhibited with the Berliner Kunstausstellung. He died in
Pasing in 1908. His works are mostly
Classical in tone and his still-lifes were generally his most popular works. == Sources ==