He studied classical philology, art history and archaeology at the Universities of Bonn (1871/72) and Leipzig (1873/74).
As a student, he was influenced by archaeologist Reinhard Kekulé von Stradonitz, philologists Franz Bücheler and Hermann Usener and art historian Anton Springer.
Following graduation, with a travel grant from the German Archaeological Institute, he embarked on a study trip to Italy and Greece.
After his return to Germany, he worked as a schoolteacher in Hagenau, where in 1899 he attained the title of Gymnasialprofessor.
[1] He also made significant contributions to August Baumeister's 3 volume "Denkmäler des klassischen Altertums zur Erläuterung des Lebens der Griechen und Römer in Religion, Kunst und Sitte" (Monuments of classical antiquity to illustrate the life of the Greeks and Romans in religion, art and customs).