Erwin Pendl came from a family of artists and was a student of his father in the beginning, followed by the education of court theater painter Burghart. Pendl worked in various architecture studios while specializing in the perspective view of buildings and views of Vienna.

In 1906 he was awarded a gold medal at the international exhibition in Milan. At a later time, Erwin Pendldevoted himself entirely to the representation of topographically precise vedutas, painted in watercolors. As a member of the Austrian Artists Association he also regularly participated in their exhibitions.