Born in Vienna, Austria, Gottwald imigrated with his family to Cleveland in 1862. He studied privately with Archibald Willard at the artists's studio in Cleveland, 1875-80, then went to New York for a year of classes taught by <a href=" https://findartvalue.com/artist/william-merritt-chase">William Merritt Chase</a> at the Art Students League. Gottwald then traveled to Munich and attended the Kuns