He came to Iran during the rule of Naser al-Din Shah in the Qajar dynasty and lived in Isfahan for about 20 years (1871–98).

Most of the photos captured Isfahan but a few also show sites in Tehran, Qom, Soltaniyeh, and Kashan.

After his death, all his property went to his daughter Karolina who married Eskandar Khan Davidkhanian, a General in the town of Jolfa, Isfahan.

After World War II, Ricolletta married a German man and carrying all her grandfather's belongings, went to live in Germany.

In 1975, a number of Hoeltzer's photos were put on public display which included a collection of 100 photographs from Jolfa.