Hermann Fidel Winterhalter was born in the small village of Menzenschwand (now part of Sankt Blasien) in the Black Forest, Grand Duchy of Baden.

His father, Fidel Winterhalter, made him follow a career as a painter in the footsteps of his older brother.

So close was Hermann Winterhalter to his brother that not only his work but also his personality is hard to disassociate from his most famous sibling.

Hermann was an immense support to Franz Xaver's successful international career, and took charge of the latter's studio in Paris while he was abroad.

Among his works are Young Girl from Ariccia and the portrait of his Parisian patron Nicolas-Louis Planat de la Faye that is in the Louvre.