[1] Stoltenberg studied carpentry in Copenhagen, where he also took lessons in portrait painting with Christian August Lorentzen.

Back in Norway he earned his living as a travelling portrait painter and carpenter.

During the 1830s and 1840s he visited Gudbrandsdalen, Dovre, the districts around Kristaniafjorden, Northern Norway, Trondheim, Numedal, Telemark and Østerdalen.

[2] His art was recognized after the 1914 Jubilee Exhibition at Frogner in Kristiania, and he is represented in several museums.

In addition to Stoltenberg, Lars Hertervig, Johannes Flintoe and Peder Balke were other more or less forgotten painters who found their way into museums and galleries after this exhibition.