Franz Windhager initially studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna under Christian Griepenkerl, and from 1900 he was a student of Ludwig Schmid-Reutte in Karlsruhe. From 1904, Windhager studied again in Vienna, with Christian Griepenkerl and Franz Rumpler. He then went on several study trips. In 1909 Windhager became a member of the Vienna Künstlerhaus. He received numerous awards, including the Drasche Prize in 1913 and 1915, the Rifleman Anniversary Prize of the Riflemen's Guild of the Vienna Künstlerhaus in 1916 and the I. C. Berendsen Prize in 1925. Windhager is known for his colorful genre paintings. He also worked under the name Franz Reichar(d)t or Franz Reichardt-Windhager.