Eduard Bitterlich was born in Galicia where his father had established himself. Whilst Eduard was still young his parents moved to Vienna

Vienna

Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...

, with the intention of educating him for the civil service, but against their will he entered Waldmüller

Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller

Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller was an Austrian painter and writer.He briefly attended the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, but later had to finance his life by painting portraits. In 1811 he worked as a teacher of arts for the children of Count Gyulay in Croatia...

's studio, and devoted himself to miniature painting. In 1855 he went to Venice

Venice

Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...

 in order to copy the works of the old masters. His enthusiasm was so great that he would scarcely allow himself the time to eat and drink. Upon his return he married Marie Singer von Wyssogurski, and immediately afterwards put himself under the direction of Rahl

Carl Rahl

Carl Rahl, sometimes spelled Karl Rahl , was an Austrian painter.Rahl was born in Vienna to Carl Heinrich Rahl , an engraver. He attended the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna and won a prize at the age of 19. From there he traveled to Munich, Stuttgart, Hungary, and in 1836 to Italy...

, whom he never afterwards left until his death. For this master he designed many fresco paintings, and sketched an immense number of small compositions, amongst them the 20 sheets for the 'Wanderings of the Argonauts,' and the coloured eketohes for the Duke of Oldenburg.

After Rahl's death, Bitterlioh's principal work — executed in conjunction with Griepenkerl

Christian Griepenkerl

Christian Griepenkerl was a German painter and professor at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna.Griepenkerl was born to one of Oldenburg's leading families...

 — was the design for the new Opera House

Vienna State Opera

The Vienna State Opera is an opera house – and opera company – with a history dating back to the mid-19th century. It is located in the centre of Vienna, Austria. It was originally called the Vienna Court Opera . In 1920, with the replacement of the Habsburg Monarchy by the First Austrian...

; and of his earlier productions we may name, The Pompeian figures in the Ypsilanti Palace, and the 20 Lunettes in the Banqueting-hall of the Grand Hotel of Vienna

Grand Hotel, Vienna

The Grand Hotel is a five-star luxury hotel in Vienna, Austria. It is located at the Ringstraße at Kärntnerring 9.The hotel has a long history and tradition. The architect was Karl Tietz. It was opened as the first Viennese luxury hotel in 1870. It originally had over 300 rooms, 200 bathrooms, an...

, together with the pictures for the restored castle of Duke Leopold in Hörnstein

Hornstein, Austria

Hornstein is a town in the district of Eisenstadt-Umgebung in Burgenland in Austria....

. He died at Pressbaum

Pressbaum

Pressbaum is a small town in the district of Wien-Umgebung in Lower Austria, Austria.Since 1964 it has enjoyed the status of a market town ....

, near Vienna, in 1872.