In his early childhood he carved toys, and in 1833 he went to Vienna to satisfy his artistic cravings.
He then received a scholarship from Prince Metternich enabling him to study at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts.
He remained there until 1843, receiving awards for an embossed profile in wax of the emperor Joseph II and for a steel-engraving of Metastasio.
In 1844 Guttmann produced a bronze statuette of Baron Salomon von Rothschild from a portrait, and was commissioned by him to execute a replica in marble.
There he modeled a bust of Pope Pius IX and completed his masterpiece, Der Blumenspender.