Otto Didrik Ottesen was born in Broager, on the island of Als in South Jutland. He started his career as a house painter, later realising his ambition to become an artist. Self-taught, he gained entry to the Royal Danish Academy in 1845. He specialised almost entirely in still life subjects, guided by examples of the 17th century Dutch painters.

He obtained three scholarships: from the Royal Academy, from Sødring’s Legacy Fund and from Ancker’s Fund. Ottesen travelled all over Western Europe and exhibited at Stockholm (1856), Paris (18?8) and Vienna (1882). He was also an annual guest at the Charlottenborg. He won several prizes, including the famous Neuhausen Prize in 1845, 1847 and 1849. He became a member of the Royal Academy in 1866 and a year later, member of the Board. Many of his works are now placed in the most important Danish museums: Thorvaldsen's, Hirschprung's Collection, and the Royal Museum of Art.