Portrait painter, son and probably pupil of the Stuttgart court painter Johann-Christof Grotto, in 1741, arrived at the invitation of General Levendale to revel, two years later he moved to Saint Petersburg, became painter to the Imperial court and remained there until the end of his life, he painted portraits of ladies of the Imperial family and Russian nobility.
He was short and hunchbacked, in consequence of which he received, unlike his brother, nicknamed "little Grotto". Portraits his work is characterized by integrity, performance and the obvious resemblance.