Eduard Bitterlich (August 17, 1833, Stupnicka, or Dubliany, Galicia, now Ukraine - May 20, 1872, Pfalzau, now part of Pressbaum) was born in Galicia where his father had established himself. Whilst Eduard was still young his parents moved to Vienna, with the intention of educating him for the civil service, but against their will he entered Waldmüller's studio, and devoted himself to miniature painting. In 1855 he went to Venice 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, 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 — was the design for the new Opera House; 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, together with the pictures for the restored castle of Duke Leopold in Hörnstein. He died at Pressbaum, near Vienna, in 1872.